Tracing the cultural component in teacher generated EFL materials

This qualitative documentary research sought to critically analyse the cultural content present in the EFL materials generated by six in-service teachers for the pedagogical interventions of their studies at a private university in Bogotá, Colombia. The methodology selected to conduct the study was...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores Principales: Núñez Pardo, Astrid, Téllez Téllez, María Fernanda
Formato: Capítulo de libro (Book Chapter)
Lenguaje:Inglés (English)
Publicado: Universidad Externado de Colombia 2022
Materias:
Descripción
Sumario:This qualitative documentary research sought to critically analyse the cultural content present in the EFL materials generated by six in-service teachers for the pedagogical interventions of their studies at a private university in Bogotá, Colombia. The methodology selected to conduct the study was content analysis in tandem with Cortazzi and Jin’s (1999) notions of target, local, or international cultures, as well as superficial and deep cultural aspects. Six in-service teachers participated in this study and the data gathering instruments were their artefacts (teacher generated materials) and a questionnaire. The findings revealed the emergence of deep culture issues in teacher generated materials, which was possible through reflection on students’ values, beliefs, and behaviour for transformation and improvement of self-concept. Deep culture was also addressed through students’ inquiry skills, such as observation, prediction, interpretation, and communication for problem solving. Additionally, superficial culture prevailed over deep culture as it was a constant trend regarding topic selection in teacher generated materials. Finally, the analysis unveiled that although these locally created EFL resources have been able to resist cultural hegemony by addressing representations of visible and congratulatory local Culture, they still have some limitations regarding cultural representations of aspects entailed in deep culture.