Abstract:
Teaching culture in the foreign language classroom has a long history. It began with translation of literature, transitioned to learning about the everyday lives of people, and has recently focused on particular mindsets, behaviors and moral expectations of the people being studied. One way to meet today's national and state standards and to achieve cultural competence in the beginning foreign language classroom is through reading English literature. After briefly reviewing the literature connected with second language instruction, I introduce the methodology of the study and describe the instructional processes. I then report the findings, analyze the value of the instructional approach, and suggest implications for future work. Findings from the study highlight that cultural comparison in the second language classroom leads to increased student learning and to shifts in student attitudes toward others.