Interview
Transcript of the video interview.
Topic of the interview: The topic discussed in the
interview was the incidence culture has in language learning contexts and its
relation with language.
• Date and time it was performed:
The interview was recorded on June 25 at 2:00 pm
but, it was uploaded on the 27th. It lasts nine minutes thirty-six seconds.
• Place where it was performed: Due to the
restriction we all have to go out of our places, it was recorded by Zoom.
Teacher Yennifer and I were in our houses (living room)
• Interviewed name: Yennifer Lombana Durán
• Profession: She is an English teacher. Yennifer
was graduated from the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional.
• Courses in charge:
She is teaching to primary and secondary graders.
• Summary of the answers and comments:
What do you think is the relationship between
language and culture?
Yennifer: When we teach English we not only teach
English but we teach culture as such. More than 10 years ago, I used to focus
my classes on grammar and vocabulary. It means, that I tried to make my
students aware of grammar structures. However, I have realized that I lacked of
this important feature in my classes.
What is the influence of culture in the process of a
foreign language process?
I
think there is a great influence when you learn a language regarding culture.
Most students foresee themselves in a future using the language in a real
context. Thus, students are not learning English to show they know grammar
rules. Instead, they might have the need of communicating in a real contexts.
Which cultural expressions do you know countries
have through language?
There
are different of them and culture makes differences in terms of what we do in
specific contexts. For example, in the US we find street signs or cultural
rules we have to remember when visiting different states. Teaching a language
goes beyond an idiomatic expression. Then, teachers should give students tips
for them to have better communication when having direct contact with the
target language.
Why do you think is it important to have an oral
tradition in a country?
Oral
tradition is important as long as we use it to connect people with their
history. So, it’s key to teach culture through oral tradition. We have a special link with the oral
tradition because it is the way we have learned stories and things about
history.
What do you think, do we teach language using
culture or do we teach culture using language?
Teaching
culture using language is more accurate. Then, in class I don’t tell my
students during class activities that we are going to see or explain a cultural
feature and then, we lead the class with the purpose of understanding the
culture. On the contrary, throughout the lesson content we explore some cultural
aspects of the target language.
Do you take into account culture in the strategies
you use in your English classes? Can you give me some examples?
I keep in mind the cultural component in classes. For instance, native American people have their own expressions or way to react to different moments, circumstances and events. For instance, some people use “aja” as a way to say yes or to thank for a favour. Nonetheless, here in Colombia, we have other different expressions. This difference is a small example of how cultures have their own features or characteristics.
• Write a significant reflection about the answers of the interviewed
One of the most
striking features of this interview relates to the fact that language and
culture are intrinsically connected. This connection must be due to the fact
that language is a main component of the culture along with values, beliefs,
customs and norms (Harmers, 1998). Principle that becomes a corner stone when
people talk about Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC). This concept is
described as the ability to communicate and interact with people of other
social groups. Hence, foreign language learners must be given enough exposure
to the target language but also, to the target culture. One such example of
this, is the use of lectures in classes. Through this type of material,
students are capable of identifying cultural components of the target langue
whereas they are working on understanding grammar patterns, or vocabulary.
With
this in mind, foreign language learners who are involved in a process like the
one we just mentioned, are more likely to interact efficiently when they are in
direct contact with native speakers of the language learned.