Conceptualizing culture critically: Examining perspectives from additional language teachers

• Published in: Foreign language annals Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 182 - 205
• Main Authors: Kunnas, Marika, Masson, Mimi, Carroll, Shawna M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.2025
• Subjects: beliefs and philosophy < Teacher Characteristics; foreign/second language teacher preparation; French; intercultural awareness and competence; teaching culture
• ISSN: 0015-718X; 1944-9720
• DOI: 10.1111/flan.12792

This paper presents the findings related to culture from an online survey with French as a second language (FSL) teachers (n = 45) about equity and antioppression in the Ontario FSL curriculum. FSL teachers defined culture and reflected on the link between language and culture and the role of students' cultures in FSL. Framed by an anti‐biased, antiracist (ABAR) framework, data were thematically analyzed from an intercultural and ABAR perspective. Results show that FSL teachers have a strong, nuanced, and highly diverse understanding of culture, they all believed that language and culture are interrelated (to varying degrees), and most thought that students' cultures should be integrated into FSL classes to improve students' experiences and language learning. FSL teachers' conceptions of language and culture also revealed a need to develop critical orientations in teacher preparation and learning.