Culture awareness in EFL teaching and learning

Abstract

Different languages contain different cultural features. When a language is used, its relevant cultural factors will affect people's understandings in their intercultural communications. Some of the cultural factors are explicit. Some are implicit. This paper explores the cultural problematics of learning English as a foreign language. This is done based on findings from a research conducted amongst native • speakers of the language from England and students from China studying English as a foreign language. The research specifically focuses on the comprehension patterns of culturally embedded words with regards to connotation, idiomatic expressions, and literary allusions. Most of the cultural factors, which are related with words and expressions, are explicit - with recognisable cultural tints. The findings show that the students were not as aware of these factors. Such findings enhance the emergent necessity for culture-oriented teaching. It is hoped that this paper will draw awareness of the great necessity for both teachers and students to know that cultural factors (some of which will be highlighted here) offer great challenges to people's understandings in their intercultural communications.