Teaching Culture through Technology
Mingyu Sun
Zafer Lababidi
Challenges
• Not related to any language/s learnt before.
• Very little is known about the language, its
people, customs, and culture.
• Different orthography (alphabet system)
• Not a lot of materials to work with and
create an authentic scene.
• Overcrowded curriculum.
What is Culture?
•Language
•Customs and Traditions
•Body Language
•Religion
•Relationships
•Food
•Celebrations & Holidays
•Family Ties
•Music
The United Nations Education, Social
and Cultural Organization UNESCO
(2002) defined culture as:
“culture should be regarded as the set of
distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual
and emotional features of society or a
social group, and that it encompasses, in
addition to art and literature, lifestyles,
ways of living together, value systems,
traditions and beliefs”
Traditional Culture Teaching
Benefits of Integrating Technology:
• Rich Material to Work with
• Fun and Interesting
• Use of More Authentic Material
• More Cultural Topics to Discuss
• Saves Time and Money
• Increases Audio/Visual Impact
BUT!!!!
Virtual World: Second Life
Distance Learning: Webcam Videos
1. Open the link to an interview with Junot
Díaz:
2. Read the first four paragraphs, which tell a
little bit about the author.
3. Review the vocabulary list to help better
understand the interview.
4. Click on the audio stream. Read and listen
to the interview at the same time.
5 . Afterwards, meet with two or three classmates to talk
about the interview. What did you understand? Were any
parts difficult to understand? What stood out? Read the
following discussion questions and give your opinions:
A) In 1919, Theodore Roosevelt wrote:
“We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible
turns out people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house; and
we have room for but one soul loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
Compare this idea to Junot Díaz’s vision of bilingual countries. Who do you
agree with—Roosevelt or Díaz? Would you send your children to a bilingual school?
B) What do you think about Spanish and Angloñol? Is mixing languages positive or
negative?
Do you and your friends sometimes speak Spangish or Angloñol?
6. Now, record your ideas in a web-cam video. Respond to
at least three of the questions. You can prepare notes and
consult them, but do not read a written response. After
recording, send your video to your instructor and three
classmates before leaving class. At home, listen to the
responses that your classmates have sent you.
Student Assignments
http://www.tokbox.com/vm/yvn9g80znhq3
http://www.tokbox.com/vm/k0fc5iafdbis
Mobile Computing: Jigsaw Puzzle
Quizbreak Activities
The Matching Maker
Glogster
Resources
Second Life:
www.secondlife.com
TokBox:
www.tokbox.com
Jigsaw Puzzle:
www.jigsawplanet.com
Quizbreak:
http://clear.msu.edu/quizbreak/
The Matching Game Maker:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/games/matching/
Glogster:
www.glogster.com