Some tips for raising cultural awareness in the English as a Foreign Language classroom

Abstract

This paper outlines the importance of developing English as a Foreign Language students’ cultural awareness. It argues that cultural competence is central for the success of all types of foreign language learners in any communicative situation. Thus, in addition to developing students’ linguistic skills, teachers need to help them become aware of intercultural differences. After justifying the crucial role of this component through a short literature review, I will provide some practical strategies for raising English as a Foreign Language students’ cultural awareness in the classroom, based also on my own teaching experience at the faculties of Philology and Translation and Interpreting. I will give special attention to its relevance in the cases of both types of students, future general English as a Foreign Language teachers and would-be translators.