Teaching Culture Through Language Games in the Foreign Language Classroom

Abstract

This study is focused on the use of games that can be adapted and recreated for teaching culture as a functional method in foreign language classrooms. However, other methods and techniques are also described in this thesis. This thesis presents the importance of culture in the classroom, the pedagogical approaches to the culture, and the appropriate methods for selecting games based on a set of criteria, which will generate new games. Three Colombian games will be transformed into language games. They are: "Las Cintas", "La Gallina Ciega", and "La Goloza." A general background about the cultural aspects of each game is explained and used in the application of the criteria. Benefits and limitations are described in chapter five. The suggested ideas and strategies in this chapter are designed to help teachers to integrate culture and language.