Culture as the Core in the Second Language Classroom

Transformative learning often happens when people experience cultural and linguistic contact with people different from themselves. This institute will explore how to make these experiences happen in and through classrooms. We will explore a wide range of tools for understanding self and 'others' without falling into stereotypes or reductive simplifications. While cultivating deeper understanding on how language-culture-identity informs our teaching, we will envision ways to integrate culture and language learning that include authentic materials and inter- and transcultural habits of mind. Throughout the course, participants will be engaged in constructive conversation, hands-on practice, and reflection. In the end, participants will be able to conceptualize culture teaching in ways that suit their teaching and learning context.

After this institute, you will be able to:

• Bring everyday culture into language instruction;
  
  
• Apply common frameworks of culture and culture learning;
  
  
• Create integrated language-and-culture learning objectives and lessons;
  
  
• Use authentic materials for teaching culture; and
  
  
• Assess culture learning.
  
  

Instructor

Kaishan Kong is an Associate Professor of Chinese at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in Second Language Education. She has taught language and cultural courses in both China and the United States. Her research interests include second language acquisition, mediated learning in study abroad, intercultural communication, and teacher training. Kaishan has taught the STARTALK Program and the CARLA summer Institute program for more than 10 years. She was recognized as both a Fulbright Scholar finalist (2020) and a Wisconsin Teaching Fellow (2015) for her teaching and research in language and culture. 

Target Audience
This institute is suited for elementary school to postsecondary foreign language, ESL/EFL, indigenous teachers. It is also suited to immersion teachers and teacher educators.

*IMPORTANT NOTES FOR THIS ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE INSTITUTE:

• This institute is primarily asynchronous (not real time). For the most part, you will work on activities according to your own schedule during the week but there are preset deadlines for activities. 
• You must keep up with assignments each week as they build on each other. Many assignments involve facilitation from the instructor and/or collaboration with other participants. 
• This institute includes three required synchronous sessions (Central Time):
  • First day synchronous meet-and-greet: Monday, July 10, 8–9 a.m.
  • Group discussion: Friday, July 21, 8–9 a.m.
  • Last day synchronous goodbye meeting: Friday, July 28, 8–9 a.m.
• This institute includes two optional Q&A synchronous sessions per week:
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8–9 a.m.
• Make sure you can meet the tech requirements for this institute.
  
  

I enjoyed this course and learned much from every reading, activity, instructor, and participant. The content was well-organized and focused on real scenarios. It helped me reflect on my identity, cultural background, and previous experience with other cultures. I highly recommend it!

—Rebeca Espinosa, 2022 Institute Participant