Culture Teaching

Second Language (L2) and Foreign Language (FL) curricula have a cultural component intricately woven into the fabric of the language syllabus. To teach language, one must also teach the culture inherent in the language, including the verbal as well as the non-verbal aspects. A review of the literature will show that studying the target culture does not only impact language learners while the language is being acquired, but also has an impact on students after the language lessons have ceased. A careful analysis will demonstrate that teaching the target culture to language students will foster in these students what Savignon and Sysoyev (2002) term “sociocultural competence ” or what Sellami (2000) calls “intercultural competence”. In our dynamic, multicultural world, the ability of L2 or FL students to empathize, tolerate, and appreciate the cultures of other peoples is ideal. This ability or competence will be shown to extend beyond the four classroom walls after the acquisition of language has been accomplished. The role of the teacher in developing this new competence will be established. Strategies that teacher