Content, Culture and Critical

Thinking

in an era of Global English

Lindsay Clandfield Luxembourg – Fall 2012

Can one teach a language without teaching culture?

Even when that language is a global one, which not the property of any

one country?

1.  Rosa __________ (live) in an apartment. 2. __________ you __________ (like) chocolate? 3. Every day Sam (go) ____________ to work. 4. They ____________ (watch) televison. 5. _________ she _________ (live) in Spain? 6. We ___________ (not like) rainy weather.

International culture-free English?

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International culture-free English?

English had become a “technical language stripped of expressive and aesthetic characteristics and denuded of any critical or self-conscious dimension. You learned English to use computers, respond to orders, transmit telexes, decipher manifests, and so forth. That was all.” Edward Said, literary theorist and cultural critic Culture and Imperialism

3 SUGGESTED GOALS OF A GENERAL ENGLISH COURSE

Topic: Friends and Strangers

Lexis:

people you know, action verbs

Grammar: present simple review

The ‘Challenge Club’ Friends!

Paris Hilton's New Best Friend – Reality Show

3 SUGGESTED GOALS OF A GENERAL ENGLISH COURSE

High%Culture

Culture%with%a%capital%C

Culture%with%a%sma

ll%c

Cultural%capital

CONSUMER CULTURE?

CELEBRITY CULTURE?

For cosmetic reasons

As the subject of the text or a vehicle for language to be learnt

How celebrities are used

Cultural Diversity

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,... It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us...

Culture with a Capital C

Work in pairs. Some people say that this extract could be about the times we live in now. Do you agree? Are we living in the best of times and the worst of times? Complete the sentences with your own ideas: It is the best of times because... It is the worst of times because...

Critical Thinking in the Information Age

Higher order and lower order thinking skills

Lower&order&thinking:&receive&recite&direct&medium&

trasmit&knowledge&reproduce&knowledge&

Higher&order&thinking:&manipulate&&

transform&meaning&solve&problems&construction&uncertainty&environments&&&opportunities&

conference!seminar!workshop!teacher!ideas!university !!"

Facts vs Opinions

It is the 49th state of the USA. The capital is Juneau. It is a great place. The name Alaska means “great land”. The people are the friendliest in the world. The coldest temperature recorded was -62ºC. Cold weather in Alaska is nicer than in other places.

The%FACTS%about%national%lotteries The%English%word%lottery%comes%from%the%Dutch%word%loterij,%which%is%derived%from%the%Dutch%word%lot,%meaning%fate. Lotteries%exploit%poor%people.%Families%with%low%incomes%often%spend%more%on%the%lottery%than%families%with%high%incomes.% Lottery%projects%have%been%quite%valuable%as%a%source%of%funds%for%many%government%projects.%National%lotteries%in%different%countries%have%funded%major%projects%in%the%arts,%education%and%health.

Critical thinking and language work: Conditionals

Looking critically at language: The passive

Critical thinking in Images

3 SUGGESTED GOALS OF A GENERAL ENGLISH COURSE

Global Voices

How are varieties of English different? How does technology affect language? Sports English Workplace English and jargon English and advertising Indian English Why is English a global language? English place names Caribbean English English and food words Canadian English Three circles of world English Language play South African English The future of English

Global English: A world of material for lessons

3 SUGGESTED GOALS OF A GENERAL ENGLISH COURSE

Winner of the 2010 ESU Book Award

“Ground>breaking&and&ambitious”&&

“A&landmark&course&in&English&language&teaching”&&&

“Stylish,&sophisticated&and&mature”&&

“Comprehensive&content&which&treats&learners&and&teachers&with&respect”&

Winner of the 2010 ESU President's Award

“Stood&head&and&shoulders&above&the&Eield”&&

“Imagination&in&the&range&of&exercises&and&good&use&of&current&digital&techniques”&&&

&“Rich&in&good&content&and&effective&in&the&variety&and&Elexibility&of&learning&options”&&