Culture in TESOL

Culture and its meaning play a vital role in TESOL. Although there are anthropologists that believe the notion of culture should no longer exist, I disagree. Even though the word “culture” in not directly mentioned in the title of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), culture is represented in the background of the speaker and the language being learned. One should not learn a language without learning the culture that goes with it. Culture is what defines the language. It represents meanings and traditions. However, I do agree that the definition of culture needs to be revised in TESOL. When it comes to the different views regarding culture in TESOL, I identify with the one that moves away from the received view but still sees culture in the sense of shared values. I choose this middle view because I still think it should exist, but there is no clear-cut definition that is applicable in all cases. The term culture is used in different senses so it is flexible and forms to its context, just as people do when they are in a new culture.

Identity ranges from self to civilization. When on the topic of self, people tend to see themselves as desirable. They compare themselves to others, which leads to community. The awareness of others around and one’s relationship with them allows people to be interdependent. People who view themselves as a part of a community function as a whole, while individuals see themselves an independent. There also exists the issue of culture and civilization. These closely linked words have similar meanings because they both involve interconnectedness and not strictly defined boundaries. A civilization is just the broadest cultural identity. This is what causes cultures to flourish. Cultures all draw from one another. Each culture is a mix, so no culture is in its purest form. Because of this, cultures are always evolving and drawing influences from other cultures. That is why identity is constantly evolving, as well. Culture makes up identity and when it changes, so does a person as a whole.

When it comes to essentialist versus non-essentialist, I identify with the non-essentialist for the most part. Cultures should be seen as multi-dimensional. They is a transition between cultures, it is not just black and white. Some of the narratives in Intercultural Communication addressed this issue. If someone is black, but is born in Asia, what cultures do they technically identify with? There is no clear dividing line in this case and in many others. Also, when it comes to cultures, they are recently portrayed in negative light, which is something I did not notice before. Culture is something that people identify with, so therefore should not be seen as negative. People need to be aware of different cultures, but that does not mean that they should be taught to people through stereotypes, which is sometimes the case.