LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 15:9 September 2015
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

HOME PAGE

Click Here for Back Issues of Language in India - From 2001

BOOKS FOR YOU TO READ AND DOWNLOAD FREE!

REFERENCE MATERIALS

BACK ISSUES

  • E-mail your articles and book-length reports in Microsoft Word to languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com.

  • PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES GIVEN IN HOME PAGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LIST OF CONTENTS.

  • Your articles and book-length reports should be written following the APA, MLA, LSA, or IJDL Stylesheet.

  • The Editorial Board has the right to accept, reject, or suggest modifications to the articles submitted for publication, and to make suitable stylistic adjustments. High quality, academic integrity, ethics and morals are expected from the authors and discussants.

Copyright © 2015
M. S. Thirumalai
Custom Search

Countering Culture Shock in Bangladeshi EFL/ESL Classroom

Vikarun Nessa, M.A.
Mohammad Abu Nayeem, M.A.

Abstract

This article aims at presenting a connection between second language learners and their native cultures. In this regard, a text must represent history, traditions and values of the respective culture. This article also focuses on creating a historical and cultural consciousness among second language learners of English about their glorious past. To serve this purpose a text that showcases the glorious past of Bangladesh is explored, The Raincoat by Akhtaruzzaman Elias. In this text the historical past of the glorious liberation war of Bangladesh is explored. Making such connections is more significant in countries like Bangladesh or those which were colonized by the British. It becomes significant to make such connections in countries where two modes of education exist - one in the native language and other in English, as in many multilingual countries. Due to the difference in the curriculum, learners not only learn texts in a different language, but at the same time, might lose touch with their own culture and history. To make learners aware of this fact a common thread is needed. This can be achieved by adding a translated text written in the native language in the curriculum. Using this type of texts is also going to reduce the effects of culture shock or alienating factor that second language learners often face, due to the huge cultural gap between their native culture and the culture of their texts. This article also offers a scope for the use any text that creates cultural and historical awareness among second language learners.

Keywords: English Language, Liberation, Values, Native Culture, Second Language Learners, ESL, Native Text

1. Introduction

Culture is an amalgamation of different elements or aspects. Among these various aspects language is one. It is one of the chief bearers of a culture. Through language, customs and literature of a specific culture are expressed. So a specific culture and its respective language exist in harmony or a perfect balance. But this harmony is disrupted when a second language is learned. There are two possible reasons for this disruption; firstly, and obviously exposure to a foreign language and second-ly, exposure to materials or texts which cannot be related to the learner’s culture and society. This article aims at exploring ways of restoring this disrupted harmony between culture and language in the lives of second language learners. It seeks to create a connection between the second language learner and his/her respective culture.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Vikarun Nessa, M.A.
Senior Lecturer
Department of English
Southeast University
Dhaka -1212
Bangladesh
svikarunnessa@yahoo.com

Mohammad Abu Nayeem, M.A.
Lecturer
Department of English
Southeast University
Dhaka -1212
Bangladesh
nayeemcps@gmail.com

Custom Search
  • Click Here to Go to Creative Writing Section

  • Send your articles
    as an attachment
    to your e-mail to
    languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com.
  • Please ensure that your name, academic degrees, institutional affiliation and institutional address, and your e-mail address are all given in the first page of your article. Also include a declaration that your article or work submitted for publication in LANGUAGE IN INDIA is an original work by you and that you have duly acknowledged the work or works of others you used in writing your articles, etc. Remember that by maintaining academic integrity we not only do the right thing but also help the growth, development and recognition of Indian/South Asian scholarship.