Language Is More Than Just Words
When students enter a beginning language class, they often assume that memorizing vocabulary lists and grammar rules is all it takes to become proficient. Language teachers, however, know that authentic acquisition-driven instruction goes far beyond studying words and verb charts. Because language reflects a community’s beliefs, values, and ways of living, engaging with the target culture is an integral part of the world language curriculum. This cultural connection helps students develop intercultural competency, stay motivated, and communicate with greater confidence and accuracy. Ultimately, learners make stronger, more lasting progress when they immerse themselves in the culture behind the language.
Culture Helps Learners Understand New Perspectives
ACTFL breaks down intercultural competency into the three P’s: products, practices, and perspectives. By introducing students to cultural products and practices, teachers can help them begin to understand cultural perspectives of a community. For example, the ofrenda (product) and the tradition of visiting and cleaning graves of deceased loved ones (practice) during el Día de los Muertos reveal a perspective of death in Mexico that is often more celebratory and honoring than mournful. As learners explore these connections, they then start to understand different worldviews, values, and traditions. This builds empathy, global awareness, and the ability to communicate more respectfully and accuracy.
Culture Enhances Memory, Motivation, and Fluency
Cultural experiences bring language learning to life by creating emotional connections that fuel motivation and deepen engagement. When learners connect with a language through meaningful, emotionally rich contexts (such as listening to Spanish-language music, watching a telenovela, or following Spanish-language content creators on social media), those contemporary exposures improve overall language recall and inspire them to continue their learning journey. In addition, real-world context helps students understand how language works in authentic settings, which helps them communicate with greater linguistic accuracy and cultural appropriateness.
Language Is a Reflection of Cultural Values
Every language has expressions that reflect the history, values, and humor of the people who speak it. Idioms are great examples of this. Take, for example, the expression darle la vuelta a la tortilla. While it literally means “to flip the tortilla,” it is used figuratively in Spain to mean “to change things up” or “to turn the tables.” From this expression, students who understand the cultural importance of the tortilla de patata learn about the role of this iconic dish in everyday Spanish life in addition to the idiom’s translation. In addition, many languages have words that do not exist in other languages. The Spanish word sobremesa is one such word. It describes the practice of lingering at the dinner table after finishing a meal, which shows how strongly Spanish speakers value being socially connected with others. By studying expressions like these, learners gain deeper cultural insight and build a more nuanced understanding of the language itself.
Practical Ways to Bring Culture into the World Language Classroom
The strong connection between language and culture makes it essential for language teachers to present cultural content in the target language. This can be done in a variety of engaging and interactive ways using a wide variety of Spanish classroom resourcesthat can help students develop a more holistic understanding of the language and the community it represents. Some effective ways to immerse students in culture while still providing the input needed to develop language proficiency might include reading culturally-focused texts, doing crafts, exploring traveling exhibits and cultural displays, or watching authentic videos and films.
Reading is an important part of acquisition-driven instruction. Usingreaders that are culturally focused gives students a window into the lived experiences of native speakers. These books often present stories, traditions, or historical events about topics such as the Cuban Revolution, famous Mexican legends, or Columbian music in a fictionalized setting. Students who prefer nonfiction can have the same experience as they read about influential Latinas or the products and practices of Spanish-speaking countries. By interacting with these texts, students can develop reading skills and language proficiency as they learn about critical cultural context.
Bringing the world into the classroom through the use of Spanish classroom resourceslike craft kits, traveling exhibits, and “flipped” lessons is another effective way to expose students to aspects of a culture. Activities that allow students to build, examine, and research cultural products often spark discussion, which can lead to valuable opportunities for authentic communication and interpersonal speaking practice, which are essential components of any world language curriculum.
Teachers can also bring culture into their classroom by having students watch videos in the target language. This practice allows students to hear authentic language spoken by native speakers in natural contexts. Often, students will be exposed to different accents and regional colloquialisms, thus enhancing their interpretive listing skills. In addition, videos provide a visual representation of cultural products and practices, which deepens understanding and intercultural competency.
Incorporating Culture is Essential for Language Proficiency
When students connect with the culture behind the language as part of a comprehensive world language curriculum, they develop the intercultural competence necessary to communicate effectively and respectfully in diverse contexts and deepen their understanding of both the language and the people who speak it. This enhances memory, motivation, and fluency and makes the language learning experience richer and more meaningful. Ultimately, it fosters a greater sense of global awareness, develops empathy, and helps students appreciate diverse perspectives.
