Understanding Cultural Diversity and Differences Through Christmas-themed “Small Talk” Activities

The purpose of this paper is to explore the significance and possibilities of deepening intercultural understanding in English classrooms. Since 2020, English has been set up as an independent subject in the fifth and sixth grades of Japanese elementary schools, using textbooks certified by the Ministry of Education. The national curriculum spans 10 years across elementary, junior high, and high schools, aiming for consistent development of English communication skills. There is now a greater emphasis on developing English proficiency, while previously, the focus was primarily on developing international understanding. Given the global society children will inhabit, however, there should be a prioritizing of intercultural understanding and communication skills to engage effectively with diverse cultural backgrounds. By implementing Small Talk activities created for a perspective into understanding religion and culture in three schools, the study aims to promote children's global awareness and analyze teachers’feedback, including children's reactions. In particular, this paper will examine the practices with a focus on Christmas, which is both fun and familiar to children. The examination revealed that children not only generated new ideas but also gained various insights/awareness into intercultural understanding. Many students found English classes integrating intercultural understanding to be interesting, indicating that combining language and cultural learning stimulated their intellectual interest.