Communicating Across CulturesA Guide for TeachersHow to include culture learning in English language classes Linell Davis January 2005What do we mean by culture
• Chinese speakers often mean characteristics of Chinese people as compared to characteristics of people from other nations • Knowledge about culture is often expressed as generalizations• The English are conservative• Americans are individualistic• The French are romantic• National culture• Personal traits of people from that nationMore meanings of culture• Way of life of any group– Regional culture- north/south, rural/urban– Religious culture- Christian, Buddhist, Moslem– Ethnic culture- Han, Hui, Tibetan, Xinjiang– Gender culture- male/female– Economic class culture- farmer/intellectual/business– Generational culture- youth/midd