PUB TYPE Opinion Papers (120)

Language Learning This paper addresses the issue of encouraging students to read and experience culture first hand, rather than read about culture as defined by or channeled through textbooks. Students new to the United States learn about the culture through a variety of publications: "Sun, " "The National Enquirer, " "People Weekly, " "Newsweek, " and "Time. " Utilizing this series of print media, students touch the pulse of mainstream U.S. culture and understand that a large percentage of U.S. citizens believe "first hand accounts " of UFO abductions, "learn about the future " through fàrtune tellers, and discover what their favorite Hollywood celebrities eat for breakfast. Likewise, students learn how a large percentage of U.S. citizens focus on world events, global political situations, and hard news that bears consequence to all. As the broad and varied aspects of U.S. culture reveal themselves to students, follow-up language/culture learning activities are limited only by the creativity of the instructor. (Contains 26 references.) (Author/SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document