Cross-Cultural Communication Do Icelanders have the ... - Skemman

LOK 2106 University of Akureyri
Lived abroad working or studying: 93%
Length of living abroad
Less than a year: 10%
1-5 years: 44%
6-10 years: 22%
More than 10 years: 7%
Born abroad: 17%
Number of foreign countries lived in:
1 country : 67%
2 countries: 17%
3 countries: 12%
4 countries: 4%
The importance of giving students insight into the culture of relevant
language area
Rather important: 10%
Important: 26%
Very important: 64%
When asked why they thought it important to involve education about the
target country in the language teaching, 30% of the teachers stated that
culture and language were interwoven and inseparable. “Language is the
bridge to culture. Without the insight into the culture of the country you
cannot really understand what is written. We learn the language to connect
us to the culture because it matters to us. It would be ridiculous to build a
bridge without an attachment on the other side” (21)
15% of the teachers regarded discussion about the culture, made the
language study more interesting and diverse and therefore easier for the
students while they become curious and feel the study has more purpose.
“The students can appreciate and “feel” the language better if they have
some understanding of the culture” (1)
14% of the teachers mentioned that involving culture in language teaching
was important to increase the interest of the students in the target country
and prepare them for a visit or stay.
“It influences how the students understand some of the texts they read; they
need to understand the cultural implications of certain kinds of language
26
Steinunn Aðalbjarnardóttir