Culture in Language Learning: Background, Issues and Implications

• Main Authors: Omid Pourkalhor, Nastaran Esfandiari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lasting Impressions Press 2017-03-01
• Series: International Journal of English Language and Translation Studies
• Subjects: Culture; Language Learning; Learning Environment; Cultural Awareness
• Online Access: http://www.eltsjournal.org/archive/value5%20issue1/4-5-1-17.pdf

The present study aimed at presenting the historical background of the emergence of culture in language learning and how it can be correlated with the language learners. In fact, by providing various definitions of culture and the role it might play in the process of language learning, whether directly or indirectly, this research provides a clear-cut overview of culture and its application among the people as well as their communication in the society. Moreover, the relationship between culture and language learning is also taken into account. To this end, basic definitions of culture in different research studies are investigated moving toward finding a path to make a connection between language and culture. Therefore, a review of studies on the relationship between language learning and culture is provided to account for the possible effectiveness of benefiting from culture in the language learning process in that the learning context (i.e. foreign or second language) can be affected by the culture of the teachers as well as the learners. This demands that both teachers and learners should be aware of cultural issues surrounding the language and the fact that it can be beneficial for the process of language learning. If learner are consciously involved in the culture of the language they are learning, they certainly can have better performance and understand the language more tangibly.