Glossary of Terms:

 

Co-culture: A co-culture is a group of people who are bonded through a system of values, beliefs and behaviour associated with a common group identity. It is membership in a group that is part of an encompassing culture. . Retrieved from: http://www.ajol.info/index.php/afrrev/article/viewFile/83609/73637

 

Collectivistic Cultures: Collectivistic cultures emphasize the needs and goals of the group as a whole over the needs and wishes of each individual. In such cultures, relationships with other members of the group and the interconnectedness between people play a central role in each person's identity. Cultures in Asia, Central America, South America, and Africa tend to be more collectivistic. Retrieved from: http://psychology.about.com/od/cindex/fl/What-Are-Collectivistic-Cultures.htm

 

Cultural identity: The definition of groups or individuals (by themselves or others) in terms of cultural or subcultural categories (including ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, and gender). In stereotyping, this is framed in terms of difference or otherness. Oxford Reference, retrieved from: http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095652855

 

Culture: Culture is the language, values, beliefs, traditions, and customs people share and learn‘. When you identify yourself as a member of a culture, you must not only share certain characteristics, but you must also recognize yourself and others like you as possessing these features and see others who don‘t possess them as members of different categories.

Retrieved from: http://www.ajol.info/index.php/afrrev/article/viewFile/83609/73637

 

 

Interaction. The activity of being with and talking to other people, and the way that people react to each other.  McMillan Dictionary, retrieved from http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/interaction

 

Intercultural Communication: Intercultural communication occurs when members of two or more cultures or co-cultures exchange messages in a manner that is influenced by their different cultural perceptions and symbol systems. In other words, intercultural communication requires the perception of differences, not just their existence.

Retrieved from: http://www.ajol.info/index.php/afrrev/article/viewFile/83609/73637

 

 

Individualistic Cultures: Individualistic cultures view individuals as independent and able to succeed by themselves. Audiences in an individualistic society react well to messages that speak to individuality and personal achievement. Societies, such as the United States, embrace an individualistic culture based on the tenants of freedom, individualism, and self-reliance. Retrieved from:  http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/individualistic-vs-collectivistic-cultures-differences-communication-styles.html

 

Sociocultural Awareness: Sociocultural awareness means awareness of the societies and cultures of the target language, and therefore of the contexts the language is used in. Teachers themselves transmit information subconsciously about culture and society through their behaviour and interaction with learners. Example: Learners read about taboo subjects in British society. Example in the classroom: Consideration of sociocultural aspects of language is increasingly important in the context of ELT, which in the past has tended to be UK, or US centred. Project work, tasks outside the class in the target society, web quests and inviting outside speakers into the class allow learners to explore the contexts the target language functions in, and how these contexts affect linguistic choices. (From The British Council: Teaching English, retrieved from:  http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/knowledge-database/sociocultural-awareness)

 

Sociocultural Competence:  Juan C. Vegas Puente (2006) describes a person with some degree of sociocultural competence as someone, who is able to see relationships between different cultures and  is able to mediate, that is interpret each in terms of the other, either for themselves or for other people. (Vegas Puente, Juan C., 2006, Different Views on Sociocultural Competence, as cited by  The Kazakh-American Free University Academic Journal №3 – 2011, retrieved from: http://www.kafu-academic-journal.info/journal/3/71/)

 

Sociocultural Context:  Socio-cultural context refers to the idea that language, rather than existing in isolation, is closely linked to the culture and society in which it is used. This means when language is learnt, the socio-cultural context in which it is used needs to be taken into consideration as well.  Example: Learners are looking at the language of advertisements. In order to do this effectively, they need to understand the culture in which the adverts function. Example in the classroom: Activities that can raise awareness of socio-cultural context include using stories, analysing newspaper headlines, and looking at slang and idiomatic language.  (From The British Council: Teaching English, retrieved from:  http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/knowledge-database/socio-cultural-context )

 

Target Culture: The culture inherent into a second language learning. It provides a lot of information on the life, society, and history of the inner circle country and increases students’ knowledge. Retrieved from: https://www.cape.edu/docs/ttalkMcKay43.pdf