Abstract:

Abstract: The link between language and culture, and the incorporation of culture into language teaching has recently gained attention in the area of EFL. In this regard, the present study explores the views of a group of Turkish EFL instructors at a higher education context, concerning the integration of the target culture into English classes. The study also examines instructors’ practices in classrooms with regard to their handling of the cultural content, and to what extent their views and practices align. Data were collected through interviews, observations and post-observation interviews from 24 instructors. Findings revealed that EFL teachers find teaching culture in their classrooms valuable, for reasons such as facilitating engagement, communication and broadening learners’ perspectives. However, a number of teacher and institution related hindering factors of culture teaching was noted. Although it is hard to tell that there is a mismatch between teachers views and practices, many of their views and practices were not found to be correlated.

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