The Importance of Cultural Understanding in ESL Education

ESL program opens the door to new opportunities, builds confidence, and connects people from different parts of the world. Learning the language requires much more than just memorizing some words and grammatical rules. Cultural understanding is an essential factor in learning English. Here’s why cultural understanding plays such an essential role in ESL education.

Building Stronger Communication

One thing that might be easy to do when learning a new language is to focus on the words of that language and how to say them. Language is not only about what one says but also about how one says it. 

Culture plays a very critical role in using languages in conversations. This means that, in some cultures, it is polite to greet formally, while in others, “hi” will do just fine. Understanding cultural differences informs you when to be formal or informal and how to show respect.

Make Students Feel Comfortable 

Learning in a class when people from different cultural backgrounds come together can be intimidating. Sometimes, you may feel that other class members do not understand their culture; in such a case, you will feel reluctant to participate. In contrast, acceptance and respect are born when teachers and classmates take time to learn about each other’s cultures.

Encouraging Respect and Tolerance

In many ESL classes, students come from all over the world. Some have come from countries where some of their customs and traditions are radically different from those of the English-speaking countries. 

Understanding cultural differences creates an atmosphere of respect in which you may feel safe. As people learn about the backgrounds of others and what is important to them, barriers break down.

Vast Improvement of Professional Opportunities

A majority of ESL learners wish to advance their language skills to be hired for higher-paying jobs or receive promotions within their current employment. Understanding the nuances of a culture is especially valuable for employment in areas such as customer service and other direct contact jobs that involve working closely with people. Knowing how to approach work scenarios can enable the students to excel and succeed.

For example, a handshake is a standard greeting the first time one meets someone in the United States. In other cultures, it is respectful to bow upon greeting someone. Understanding in which situations the other or one greeting is appropriate can make quite a difference in the perception a person creates about themself. Being sensitive to cultural differences at work enables the students to fit in quickly and impress.

Making English Learning More Engaging

Learning English on its own can be tedious. Adding cultural lessons into the curriculum helps to make the process more amusing and enjoyable. Students will learn all about food, musical types, holidays, and traditions of countries speaking in English. It makes learning more exciting and can give students a better context in which the learned language will be used.

For example, Thanksgiving or Christmas in America would be very engaging subjects since they allow an opportunity for discussion and to practice English in very realistic scenarios. This helps them relate language and culture together and gives meaning to their acquired language skills in a more practical way.

Start Your ESL Career with Northwest Career College

If you want to enhance your English skills and continue your cultural knowledge, Northwest Career College is your best choice. Our ESL programs incorporate cultural training so you are well-rounded in the English language and better prepared to be successful in not only your personal life but also your professional life.