Foreign Culture Research Articles

INTERCULTURAL ASPECT: DIDACTIC AND METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING A SECOND FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN GENERAL SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The article deals with the didactic and methodological principles of teaching a second foreign language in general secondary education institutions in the light of the intercultural aspect. The professional literature on the problem of organizing the educational process of teaching a foreign language and culture in general and German as a second foreign language in particular is analyzed. Attention is focused on the principles of learning as a regulator of thinking and speaking processes of understanding and generating foreign language information. The importance of adherence to the principles and their advantages in the formation of skills and abilities of foreign language communicative competence is presented. The author singles out the principle of visibility, the observance of which involves and interconnects other principles, for example: scientificity, feasibility, creativity and individualization. The rules that can dominate in the development of the educational process of teaching a second foreign language are formulated, where visibility as a didactic principle is internalized in the methodological principle of communicative approach. Examples in German of the implementation of the principle of communicativeness, in particular the principle of real authentic communication, are given. Three aspects for achieving communicative goals with the characteristics of the culture of speech are distinguished. The requirements for compiling teaching and learning materials, which are also an integral component of the educational process of teaching a second foreign language, are specified. The author describes the principle of taking into account the native language and culture, when students learn to realize the culture of the peoples of the language being taught. A comparison of linguistic features in German and Ukrainian socio-cultures is presented. The factor of the phenomenon of culture, which is thematized to students in the educational process through the prism of a foreign language and comparing the facts of the cultural experience of the peoples whose language is studied with the experience of the people whose heritage is the Ukrainian language, is highlighted.

The Cultural Leadership Role of the Red Sleeve Library in the New Era of University Libraries

Of cultural inheritance, Red Sleeve Library has successfully promoted the inheritance and development of traditional culture. In terms of cultural innovation, Red Sleeve Library not only pays attention to the protection of traditional culture, but also actively explores and promotes emerging cultural forms. In terms of cultural exchange, Red Sleeve Library provides readers with opportunities to learn about different cultures and promote the exchange and integration of Chinese and foreign cultures.

Building Civilization in the Era of Globalization Based on Knowledge Through Education and Dakwah

In the era of globalization, characterized by global economic, technological, and cultural integration, the development of civilization has become increasingly complex. Amidst these dynamics, education and propagation of faith (dakwah) play a crucial role in shaping the foundation of a sustainable civilization. History bears witness that the presence of knowledge through education and dakwah serves as a benchmark for the rise and fall of nations. Knowledge is the light for humanity, enlightening their minds, fostering civilization, and bringing happiness. However, knowledge does not come automatically. It must be sought, learned, practiced, internalized, propagated, and held accountable to its true essence. This forms the basis for building civilization by making knowledge the foremost component. This research aims to explore the roles of education and dakwah as the foundation for civilization-building in the era of globalization, while also highlighting the challenges and opportunities in this process. The research methodology employed is qualitative analysis involving literature review and case studies. The findings indicate that education provides the knowledge and skills necessary to confront global challenges, while dakwah provides spiritual and moral guidance that forms the basis of civilizational values. Nonetheless, there are challenges in preserving religious identity and traditional values amidst the influence of foreign cultures and modern technology.

VISUALISASI LIRIK LAGU “LIR ILIR” UNTUK ANAK-ANAK BERBASIS METODE DOUBLE DIAMOND

“Lir Ilir”, a folk song composed by Sunan Kalijaga, contains righteous meaning that teaches life lessons to human beings. The development of technology and information at the present time has triggered Indonesian children to be closer to and familiar with foreign cultures which may bring about negative impact on the preservation of Indonesian culture. Indonesian children become more familiar with foreign language songs rather than with Indonesian folk songs. Accordingly, the values of local culture may diminish over time when children tend to appreciate other cultures than their own one. The current study aims to create a visualization design of the lyrics of “Lir Ilir” as a complementary media of recognizing folk song to appeal mainly to children. The study employs Double Diamond design method approach. At the development phase, the cost-benefit matrix is used as a validation tool. The study results in four illustration posters employing the illustration styles of realistic, cute childlike, and spread illustrations in accordance with parts of stanzas in “Lir Ilir” lyrics. The visualization design of “Lir Ilir” may help Indonesian children to recognize, understand, and interpret the values of local cultures in Indonesia. Lyrics of Lir Ilir is one of the examples providing this purpose.

Approximation and contextualization of the teacher's professional context

The present research work is of qualitative design with a descriptive approach, which shows important information that the trainee teacher focused on during the English language observation classes, emphasizing the challenges and responsibilities that a teacher faces daily, the same that the trainee teacher will have to face in the future. In addition, a detailed vision is provided regarding the professional context of teachers of English as a foreign language, highlighting findings related to the use of the English language as well as the incorporation of foreign cultures in the classroom for enriching learning, the methodology used to address the behavior of students, making them show interest in learning, and overcoming the difficulties they have with the language, taking into account that this is not their language of origin.
 Similarly, the adaptations that teachers should make in terms of an improvement in the learning process of students highlight that correct use of the language concerning the level of English of the students has a significant impact on a better understanding of the topics addressed in classes, as well as promoting a good learning environment where values such as respect and empathy influence a harmonious coexistence where students participate without fear of making mistakes, as this is part of healthy learning. Likewise, an educator must respond to the needs of each student, thus guaranteeing a quality education.

The incentives of international mobility, recognition of foreign society and culture through trade and international aid

This research provides empirical evidence of the influence of trade and international aid on migration. Using data on Japanese trading with African countries and the international aid provided by the Japanese government to African countries, the regression results show that higher trade and international aid both increase the attractiveness of Japanese society and attract more migrants from African countries to settle down in Japan. The phenomenon is significant after splitting the migrants into students and employees. Furthermore, the effects of trade and international aid are compared using quantile regressions. International aid better explains migration behavior when the number of migrants from the country is low, but trade better explains migration behavior when the number of migrants from the country is high. Such differences contribute to the literature by showing the recognition mechanism differences under different levels of social networks and foreign connections on a personal level. More people moving to Japan could lead other local residents to follow, making the social network effect stronger and individuals more connected to Japan. In such a case, the economic indicator, trade, could better explain the motivation of migration behavior. This finding could help the Japanese government develop better policies to attract highly-skilled employees and potential students to settle in Japan to alleviate the Japanese aged society problem.

Factors Contributing to EFL Learners’ Construction of Arguments in Culturally Infused Discussions

This study describes the factors that enhanced students’ construction of arguments when participating in culturally infused discussions at an undergraduate English as a foreign language British Culture course. The research was conducted at a university in Northwestern Colombia. This paper presents a section of the results of a larger project whose objective is to identify the elements that aid participants in building and elaborating arguments in culturally infused discussions. Socratic questioning was an integral element of the discussions. To attain the purpose of this study, a qualitative single-case design was employed. Findings show that the factors facilitating the construction of arguments could potentially be peer scaffolding, previous knowledge, connection to participants’ reality, and curiosity and inquiry. This study makes important contributions to the field of critical thinking skills work in English as a foreign language setting, particularly argumentation, as it sheds light on relevant aspects to foster students’ collaborative argumentation.

A Brief Analysis of the Influence of Foreign Culture on the Development of Thai Culture

Thailand is a member and founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the World Trade Organization. As one of the ancient countries in Southeast Asia with a history of more than 700 years, the development of its culture runs through the development of Thailand from ancient times to the present, and has a far-reaching impact on the development of Thai society that cannot be ignored. As for the development process of Thai culture, especially the formation and roots of culture, it is inevitable to involve the penetration and influence of foreign culture, and the so-called foreign culture can be divided into Eastern culture and Western culture. Western culture is generally synonymous with European and American culture; Oriental culture is more representative of traditional Chinese culture and ancient Indian culture. Geographically, Thailand is located in Southeast Asia, that is, in the middle of China and India. At the same time, from the perspective of cultural regional distribution, Thai culture is also located between the two eastern cultural regions of Chinese culture and Indian culture. To sum up, the influence of foreign cultures on the development of Thai culture cannot be underestimated or ignored. That's what we're talking about today: the influence of foreign cultures on the development of Thai culture.

Thresholds of Architectural Morphology of Yoruba Buildings in Southwest Nigeria till the Millenia

The literary materials on Yoruba architecture that are more common are descriptive. They dwell mostly on the massing of units, individual configurations within buildings and cultural patterns in ornamentation. The direct links between the living spaces and their socio-cultural implications are emphasized to explain the origin of the forms. The morphological chronology in the building patterns is regarded as vernacularisation processes especially from the traditional patterns to the vernacular traditions. There are hardly any publications of Yoruba architectural buildings beyond the later vernacular patterns like the Afro-Brazilian style. While these volumes of literature are mostly limited to the traditional and vernacular styles, the ethno-acculturation of more contemporary and foreign building patterns like the "international" and the "postmodern" styles into the body of indigenous architectural building patterns of the Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria are not being investigated and published. The culture of a people is preserved in their architecture. If the culture of the Yoruba is preserved in their buildings, the cross-pollination of the Yoruba culture with different inputs from foreign cultures should be evident in the new indigenous buildings that are evolving up till the end of the twentieth century. This chapter material has organized the different lines of thought in the morphology of indigenous architectural building patterns of the Yoruba into a continuum that extends beyond the limits of the current body of literature on the topic. It attempts to decipher the new forms and elements of the buildings of later Yoruba indigenous architecture up till the turn of the twentieth century. The emphasis is on the definition of newer building patterns that can be termed as "indigenous" to the Yoruba culture in Southwest Nigeria. Having increased the ambit of the Yoruba architecture concerning the building patterns beyond the exposition of the previous publications, the current surcease on the morphology of Yoruba architecture in print can be broken to open up more research and publications on contemporary thresholds of the indigenous Yoruba architecture. The chapter is concluded with a guide on the identity of buildings of indigenous architecture of the Yoruba even within the morass of foreign building patterns that crowd the Yoruba towns in Southwest Nigeria.

Development of secondary language personality in the conditions of foreign language education

Relevance. Knowledge of the language of another culture helps to strengthen mutual understanding and respect between cultures. Therefore, the investigation of the topic of secondary language personality development in the conditions of foreign language education is relevant and has important social significance, as it contributes to more harmonious intercultural relations and the development of global citizens.Purpose. The purpose of this study was to find out how the cultural context of a foreign language affects the process of secondary language personality development.Methodology. The study used analytical method and generalisation.Results. The findings of this study revealed the influence of cultural context on the development of students� secondary language personality in foreign language learning. The study also managed to identify the roles of various cultural aspects such as traditions, values, customs, and arts in the learning process and their influence on students� motivation and engagement. The study analysed how the integration of cultural aspects into the learning process can contribute to a better understanding of foreign language and culture, as well as cultural enrichment of students. The study found effective methods and approaches aimed at incorporating cultural aspects into the learning process and their influence on the successful development of secondary language personality. Within the framework of this study, a survey of foreign language teachers working in higher education institutions of Kazakhstan was conducted.Conclusions. The findings of the survey highlighted the diversity of views and methodologies applied by these educators in the foreign language-centred learning process. The findings of this study can be used by scholars and researchers, as well as teachers in educational institutions to develop more effective methods of teaching a foreign language, as well as to adapt curricula to the specifics of the cultural context.

ІНТЕРНЕТ-ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ЯК ЗАСІБ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ НАВЧАННЯ ПИСЕМНОГО МОВЛЕННЯ ІНОЗЕМНОЮ МОВОЮ В УМОВАХ МІЖКУЛЬТУРНОЇ КОМУНІКАЦІЇ

The article deals with the problem of teaching foreign language writing to the students of higher educational institutions in the context of intercultural communication. The difficulties encountered by the subjects of the educational process during the formation of communicative abilities in a foreign language written communication have been indicated, and the way of solving the problem with the help of Internet technologies as a means of organizing the educational process of teaching writing to students of higher educational institutions has been proposed. The emphasis has been put on the formation of intercultural competence in the context of written communication activity in a foreign language. The professional literature on the problem has been analyzed and the advantages of Internet technologies as a learning tool have been clarified, in particular blog-, tandem-, postcrossing technologies for optimizing the educational process of the students of higher educational institutions in the course of writing activity inside or outside the classroom. The advantages of Internet teaching technology have been indicated and compared with the main learning tool – a textbook. The paper outlines the place and role of blog, tandem and postcrossing as learning tools in written communication at the intercultural level. The goals and objectives of Internet technologies with corresponding strategies have been specified. The article presents didactic possibilities of using blog-, tandem-and postcrossing technologies for the formation of intercultural aspect of written communication of higher educational institutions’ students. The empirical research with the help of diagrams based on the survey of the students of different specialities at four Ukrainian universities has been described. The novelty of the study lies in the use of innovative technologies for teaching and learning a foreign language and culture in the context of a cultural approach to the formation of written communication skills in a foreign language at the level of intercultural communication.

Cultural Intermediaries: How Local Experts Shape the Financial Performance of Foreign Cultural Products

Purpose - This study examines the pivotal role of local expert reviewers in the financial success of imported foreign films (Hollywood movies) within the Chinese market. It integrates signaling theory and gatekeeping scholarship to examine how these intermediaries reduce mainstream uncertainty. We hypothesize local expert reviewers to better grasp spaces for resonance between imported films and local preferences compared to foreign critics. Moreover, we examine the moderating roles of films attributes such as production scale, prestigious awards, and local adaptation strategies.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - We test hypothesized relationships and contingencies via OLS regressions on box office performance spanning 500 top-grossing Hollywood studio imports in China from 2000 2017 with data from multiple sources.
 Findings - The OLS regressions reveal that local expert reviewers significantly influence cross-border film success, with the impact moderated by production budgets and awards, but potentially diminished by cultural adaptation.
 Research Implications - Our study unpacks market drivers and product-level contingencies around imported creative products amidst mainstream uncertainty. The findings contribute to international business literature and cultural business by showcasing the nuanced impact of local cultural intermediaries on the financial performance of foreign cultural products. This research underscores the importance of local expert opinions in navigating the complex landscape of global content distribution and consumption, offering valuable insights for content creators and marketers aiming to optimize the global reach of products.

Travel-based learning: unleashing the power of destination curiosity

ABSTRACT International travel has been historically influenced by interest in foreign cultures and environments. Despite its deep roots in curiosity and exploratory behavior, curiosity-driven travel is underrepresented in modern tourism scholarship. Curiosity, vital for exploratory actions, plays a significant role in travelers’ behaviors, influencing travel for learning about diverse societies and cultures. This study (1) underscored destination curiosity as the zeal for travel exploration, (2) devised a Destination Curiosity scale using mixed methods, (3) validated the scale’s predictive capability concerning cultural identity’s impact on visit intentions, and (4) expanded tourism literature, aiding entities in crafting experiences that stimulate curiosity and learning.

Cultural Intermediaries: How Local Experts Shape the Financial Performance of Foreign Cultural Products

Purpose - This study examines the pivotal role of local expert reviewers in the financial success of imported foreign films (Hollywood movies) within the Chinese market. It integrates signaling theory and gatekeeping scholarship to examine how these intermediaries reduce mainstream uncertainty. We hypothesize local expert reviewers to better grasp spaces for resonance between imported films and local preferences compared to foreign critics. Moreover, we examine the moderating roles of films attributes such as production scale, prestigious awards, and local adaptation strategies. Design/Methodology/Approach - We test hypothesized relationships and contingencies via OLS regressions on box office performance spanning 500 top-grossing Hollywood studio imports in China from 2000 2017 with data from multiple sources. Findings - The OLS regressions reveal that local expert reviewers significantly influence cross-border film success, with the impact moderated by production budgets and awards, but potentially diminished by cultural adaptation. Research Implications - Our study unpacks market drivers and product-level contingencies around imported creative products amidst mainstream uncertainty. The findings contribute to international business literature and cultural business by showcasing the nuanced impact of local cultural intermediaries on the financial performance of foreign cultural products. This research underscores the importance of local expert opinions in navigating the complex landscape of global content distribution and consumption, offering valuable insights for content creators and marketers aiming to optimize the global reach of products.

Analysis of the Subtitle Translation of The Shawshank Redemption from the Perspective of the Skopos Theory

Translation is an important communication skill between different languages. In modern society, audiovisualproducts are distributed to worldwide areas as a popular means of mass media. As the globalization of economy and culture is advancing in the new century, audiovisual subtitle translation plays an increasingly important part. Good subtitles can enhance the audience’s experience of appreciating foreign films and make cultural communication more effective. This thesis conducts a brief survey on the strategies for film subtitle translation using the case study of the famous film The Shawshank Redemption. In this paper, based on Skopos theory, the author made a comprehensive analysis of subtitling activities and pointed out that subtitling, as a specialized area of translation, is not only guided by translation studies but also under the constraints of film properties. The Skopos theory of film subtitle translation is to provide, within the constraints of time and space, a well-translated subtitle that can contribute to a good understanding of what is happening on the screen. In short, the end justifies the means. Therefore, during the process of subtitle translation, the subtitler should take all the factors into consideration to identify the translation purpose, and then adopt corresponding translationstrategies. From this perspective, the author takes the Skopos theory as instruction and applies the reduction and addition method to analyze the film subtitle translation. In the age of globalization, foreign films are increasingly entering people’s lives. Watching foreign films is a popular and effective way to understand foreign cultures. However, in China, subtitle translation has not attracted as much academic attention as it deserves and few theories could be appropriately applied to subtitle translation. Therefore, the author hopes that subtitle translation could be paid more attention in terms of crosscultural communication.

Professional preparation of teachers to form foreign language culture as a condition of socialization of schoolchildren

Relevance. The relevance of the studied problem of the formation of foreign language culture in the process of teaching schoolchildren lies in the fact that a modern teacher should be competent in the issue of intercultural socialization, an integral part of which is the common culture of different groups of society, and their communication. Purpose. The purpose of the scientific article is to determine the approaches in the professional activities of teachers to the issue of foreign language culture, as an important tool in the social life of students. Methodology. Methods of comparison, analysis and synthesis, systematization, and generalization were used. Results. In a deep sense, the socialization of an individual is largely determined by the totality of his/her capabilities at the intercultural level for foreign language communication, which is an adequate and correct interaction with other nations and their different cultures. In modern conditions, teachers face the important task of educating students in the qualities necessary for their general socialization. Such qualities include the process of assimilation of both one�s own culture and a foreign one, the definition of one�s own norms and values, as well as an understanding of the values of others. Understanding a foreign language culture is not only a factor of socialization, but, firstly, an important component of self-education. Conclusions. The research concludes that effective teacher training in foreign language culture and intercultural communication is crucial for developing students' socialization skills and fostering multilingualism in education, particularly within the context of Kazakhstan's educational system. Keywords: educational process; communication; competence; multilingualism; personality

Peranan Cerita Rakyat Nusantara dalam Meningkatkan Literasi Budaya dan Kewargaan Siswa

Cultural literacy skills are important to have so that students are not easily influenced by foreign cultures that enter. By improving their cultural literacy skills, they will better appreciate, maintain, and preserve the local culture found in the Indonesian community. The aim of writing this article is to see the role of Indonesian folklore in increasing student literacy, especially elementary school students. The research method used is a qualitative method with a library study approach. Data obtained by searching for journals, e-books and articles related to keywords and discussion topics. The results of the research show that folklore can improve students' literacy skills, especially by increasing character values ​​and knowledge of the unique characteristics of each region in Indonesia

Globalization’s Cultural Odyssey: Navigating Multicultural Waters in Business

Globalization has ushered in a transformative era in business, eradicating borders and fostering cross-border commerce. This phenomenon has led to an influx of multinational corporations (MNCs) venturing into developing nations. Consequently, MNCs are now prevalent in various countries, with diverse cultural landscapes. The essence of managing across cultures has emerged as a direct outcome of globalization, necessitating that expatriates, hailing from foreign cultures, adapt to and lead individuals from disparate cultural backgrounds in unfamiliar settings. This challenge has yielded a mixed track record, with both successes and failures. Managing across cultures demands the intricate balance of assimilating into, and yet retaining, one’s own culture while comprehending and respecting the cultures, customs, management practices, and preferences of others. It is a dynamic process of adjusting to a multitude of sometimes conflicting cultures while preserving one’s own cultural identity

When the Foreign Becomes Familiar: The Glass Bead Assemblage from Madjedbebe, Northern Australia

By investigating the materiality of colonial encounters, specifically the consumption of introduced commodities by Indigenous peoples, archaeologists can explore questions concerning value, agency, consumer choice and localization. This has the significant capacity to broaden understandings of intercultural encounters and challenge colonial narratives. Glass beads represent one of the earliest foreign material culture introductions to the Indigenous peoples of Australia. The rock-shelter site of Madjedbebe, best known for yielding the oldest evidence to date for human occupation in Australia, also contains one of the largest assemblages from an Indigenous site context in Australia—51 glass beads and associated fragments. We present here an analysis of these objects—through attribute and microwear analysis—in concert with the archival record, to reveal the ways in which Bininj (Aboriginal people) incorporated glass beads into their own lifeways.

Exploring The Relationship of Traditional Cultural Literacy and Dance Teaching in Shanxi Vocational College of Art

Dance is an art form that originates from life and is higher than life. Dance presents meaningful or valuable events in life on stage through specific arrangements, costumes, and props. Dance originated from the primitive Nuo opera and was a form of celebration in primitive society. After thousands of years of development, dance forms have already acquired complete forms and cultural connotations. And China's unique folk dance culture also exudes unique charm. In addition to absorbing the essence of foreign culture, it is equally important to inherit traditional folk dance in dance teaching in universities. Therefore, it is particularly important to incorporate traditional culture into dance teaching through what methods and teaching methods are used.Dance is created by the working people in their long-term life practice, containing the wisdom of the working people. In dance teaching, it is not only necessary to impart dance skills, but also to enable students to understand the traditional culture of the nation. Dance is one of the forms of traditional cultural expression, with distinct regional and strong ethnic characteristics. Dance embodies special cultural phenomena from content to form. At the same time, traditional culture is a reflection of life at a specific time, reflecting cultural reconstruction. In dance teaching, incorporating traditional culture is beneficial for students to understand traditional culture and experience the essence of dance.