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.
  
  

Instructors

Martha Bigelow is Professor in Second Language Education at the University of Minnesota. She received her Ph.D. from Georgetown University. Her research interests span fields of education, applied linguistics, and cultural studies. While she has focused mainly on the language learning and schooling of adolescent refugees from East Africa, she is also deeply invested in the schooling of all language learners as they learn in home, community, and school settings.

Kaishan Kong is 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.

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.
• This institute includes two required synchronous sessions:
  • 1st day synchronous meet-and-greet: July 12, 8–9 a.m. (Central Time)
  • Last day synchronous goodbye meeting: July 30, 8–9 a.m. (Central Time)
• This institute includes optional Q&A synchronous sessions (two sessions per week):
  • Week 1: 7/13 & 7/15, 8–9 a.m. (Central Time)
  • Week 2: 7/20 & 7/22, 8–9 a.m. (Central Time)
  • Week 3: 7/27 & 7/29, 8–9 a.m. (Central Time)
• Participants will also have the opportunity to work with their small group synchronously during the institute, but the group can decide their meeting time to fit everyone's schedule.
• Make sure you can meet the tech requirements for this institute.

This course has made me question the role of culture in my curriculum and how I can make the necessary changes to complicate culture, enrich my students’ experiences by offering multiple perspectives while helping them move towards cultural competence.

—Rosa Sala-Healey, 2020 Participant