Creating a heritage trail through self-directed learning in the foreign language classroom

Abstract

IntroductionOn 7th July, 2007, George Town's rich living heritage, culture and history were officially recognized when the World Committee in Quebec City, Canada, officially inscribed the city as a UNESCO World Site.Jointly listed with Malacca, George Town was acknowledged as having developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca. influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the town with a specific multicultural heritage that is both tangible and intangible. Featuring residential and commercial buildings, George Town represents the British era from the end of the 18th century.Citing outstanding universal as the reasons for the inscription, UNESCO acknowledged the city as:* A remarkable example among the historic colonial towns on the Straits of Malacca that demonstrate a succession of historical and cultural influences arising from their former function as trading ports linking East and West;* most complete surviving historic city centre on the Straits of Malacca with a multi-cultural living heritage originating from the trade routes from Great Britain and Europe through the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and the Malay Archipelago to China;* An exceptional example of multi-cultural trading towns in East and Southeast Asia, forged from the mercantile and exchanges of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures and three successive European colonial powers for almost 500 years, each with its imprints on the architecture and urban form, technology and monumental art;* A living testimony to the multi-cultural heritage and tradition of Asia, and European colonial influences; and* A reflection of a mixture of influences which have created a unique architecture, culture and townscape. (Retrieved on 9 May 2011 from http://www.mypenangheritage.com/george-town- heritage/about_unesco_award.php)The recognition by UNESCO created awareness from all levels and soon, Penang City will regain back its luster as the Pearl of the Orient. Penang not only celebrates cultural diversity but includes a re-discovery of Penang's place in local, regional and global history. Therefore, it is not surprising that besides the British other Europeans also left their traces in Penang. This is so with the Germans. They also contributed and still contribute to Penang's heritage.HeritageWhat is heritage?The past remains integral to us all, individually and collectively. We must concede the ancients their place... but their past is not simply back there, in a separate and foreign country, it is assimilated in ourselves and resurrected in an ever-changing present. (David Lowenthal, Past is a Foreign Country, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985; Citied in: http://www.quoteland.com/author/David-Lowenthal-Quotes/1512/, retrieved on 16 May 2011)There are several definitions to be found, e.g.:1. Heritage is the full range of our inherited traditions, monuments, objects, and culture. Most important, it is the range of contemporary activities, meanings, and behaviors that we draw from them.Heritage includes, but is much more than preserving, excavating, displaying, or restoring a collection of old things. It is both tangible and intangible, in the sense that ideas and memories-of songs, recipes, language, dances, and many other elements of who we are and how we identify ourselves-are as important as historical buildings and archaeological sites. (Retrieved on 9 May 2011 from http://www.umass.edu/chs/about/whatisheritage.html)2. is:* The personal meanings we attach to heritage and how these influence and shape the way we live and think as individuals, members of a community and citizens of a nation;* importance of cultural values in thinking about heritage and identify some of the heritage practices that are helping to overcome cultural exclusion in this area;* need to contain the exploitation of the environment that places natural heritage at risk. …