Language Learners As Ethnographers

Description:
This text looks at the role of cultural studies and intercultural communication in language learning. It argues that learners who have an opportunity to stay in the target language country can be trained to do an ethnographic project while abroad. Borrowing from anthropologists' the idea of cultural fieldwork and 'writing culture', language leaners develop their linguistic and cultural competence through the study of a local group. This book combines a theoretcial overview of language and cultural practices with a description of ethnographic approaches and materials specifically designed for language leaners.

Table of Contents:
Part I Language learning and ethnography - theory and practice: new goals; introducing cultural learning into the language curriculum; theoretical issues in language and cultural practices; representations, discourses and practice; ethnography for linguists. Part II The Ealing ethnography project - a case study: teaching ethnography; developing the principles for an ethnography course; the ethnography class; the student ethnography projects; 'the year abroad' - an ethnographic experience; conclusions and new perspective.