Rethinking Culture Teaching in English Language Programmes in Thailand

This article reports on perceptions and practices in relation to integrating culture into EFL teaching and how course material was designed within the Thai curriculum framework. Thai teachers’ understanding of what constitutes culture, the role it plays in language learning and how such understanding is being translated into pedagogical practices are under investigation. The practice demonstrated an attempt to adapt the Byram’s model to fit local circumstances, policies and needs. The knowledge of everyday cultures of native speakers was promoted, whilst cultures in the prior curriculum merely constituted high cultures such as literature. Potential materials, including newspapers and magazine articles, nonfiction, TV programmes and films were suggested to encourage an ethnographic frame of mind in students. The discussion of a few practical ways in which these materials can be used to promote cultural awareness and how they could be used to facilitate opportunities for language skills practice were provided. Feedback from students include the novelty of the experience, changing perspectives, facilitating better communication, practical and useful knowledge, fun, autonomous learning, critical thinking and empathy towards other cultures.