A Cultural Emphasis: Teaching culture is equally as important as teaching the grammar of the language

Videographer’s note:

I didn’t take French because of the romantic association or the delicious pastries. I chose to learn French because I fell in love with the culture — everything ranging from the emphasis on art in Europe to learning about the culturally rich communities in the northwest of Africa. 

Having attended a French immersion camp two years prior to enrolling in French courses, I was enthralled with the ethnic diversity that was so strongly defined in various French-speaking countries around the world. 

Currently, in my fifth year of formal French classes through school, I can attest to the fact that the difference between being taught about the culture surrounding the language you’re learning or not makes all the difference. 

At East, the world language teachers emphasize the necessity of understanding and valuing the culture of the language being learned, in addition to providing a thorough comprehension of the grammatical structures.