On The Teaching Of Target-language And Cultures

Technology now enables us to use computers, television satellite dishes, and the like to be in constant contact with people throughout the world. What is more, the world's economy is internationalized. No nation is totally self-reliant. It is time to demystify cultures and it is time to prepare our students to meet the challenges of intercultural communication. To make them citizens of the world, they need to learn a second culture as well as a second language so that they can communicate effectively in the international arena.The study of intercultural communication, bora in America in thel960's, is a new interdisciplinary subject based on the theories of cultural anthropology, sociology, psychology, linguistics, etc. It pays close attention to cultural differences ranging from lexical level to pragmatic failure, nonverbal communication, rituals and customs, beliefs, and values. At home, the interest in the study of intercultural communication is mainly limited to the circle of language teaching with the most attention on the improvement of intercultural communicative competence. The current situation of English teaching in China cannot meet the social needs of personnel capable of intercultural communication in the new century. Therefore, English teaching should aim to cultivate students' consciousness and enhance their intercultural communicative competence. Teachers and students should be aware of the importance of culture and realize second language learning is virtually second culture learning.By studying the relationship between language teaching and culture teaching, this thesis points out that language teaching is closely connected with culture teaching, discusses the theories and methods in culture teaching, and deals with solutions in culture teaching and analyses difficulties in culture teaching. In the end, this thesis emphasizes the difficulties arising in intercultural communication result from the lack of cultural awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences. It reinforces the necessity of culture teaching in language teaching.