Exploring and Proposing Practices in Developing Students’ Cultural Awareness through Literature in EFL Context

Abstract

The rapid growth of globalization has made English becomes international language of communication in modern technological world. Responding to this condition, English teachers are encouraged to change their role in order to meet the modern global needs of learners. Knowing that cross-cultural interactions will no longer exists in big urban center areas but it may take place everywhere particularly in most social and professional contexts as individuals are from multiple countries, cultures and languages, therefore being aware of other cultural groups’ behaviors, expectations, perspectives and values in a global context is considered as essential concept to be understood by students. In response to this call, teachers should encourage their students to understand the reasons for the actions and beliefs of the other cultural group/s whose language they are learning to use by designing class activities which will develop students cultural awareness and help them to be culturally literate students who have required skills for being successful member and communicator in global community. Literature has been considered as the source material for language learning by educators as it facilitates awareness of cultural, linguistic, and cognitive/metacognitive skill of students to improve. This paper, through an extensive review of literature, addresses the importance of cultural awareness in EFL context, discusses results from previous studies regarding the use of literature and finally presents recommendations on ways to improve cultural awareness using literary text in EFL classrooms.