Cultural awareness through task-based learning using authentic materials

Abstract

The document examines the literature review found in the research project “cultural awareness through task-based learning using authentic materials” conducted by Luis Martinez and Sally Pedraza as an investigation thesis for the master program in bilingual education and applied linguistics at Fundación Universitaria Juan N Corpas in Bogotá, Colombia. This review shows the relation among the studies, as well as the relevant findings, possible gaps, and conclusions of each study. The research project already mentioned, is an analysis of how future English teachers can benefit of the inclusion of culture while they are in formation. In order to support the objective of the project, several studies were examined in different levels. Therefore, the following pages show the different studies in a local, national, and an international level. On the other hand, the main objective of the present review is to show and examine the studies that build up the state of the art section of the project mentioned earlier. Additionally, the findings of this analysis, show that as a matter of fact, there have been several studies connected to the use of authentic materials within the English teaching field, as well as studies questioning the role of cultural awareness along the process of learning and teaching English as a second language. The most relevant discovery is that this the research project “cultural awareness through task based learning using authentic materials” is feasible and would provide an interesting approach on the teaching ESL role.