Discussing Cultural Knowledge for Life in the USA TEFL) (2025)

Introduction

This is a discussion lesson plan, ideal for teachersteaching adults living or planning to live in the US. As natives,we often take cultural knowledge for granted. This discussionlesson plan gives students the opportunity to learn practicallinguistic and para-linguistic skills such as finding apartment, usinggreetings correctly, buying food, riding the bus, and pumping gas -- allreal problems that my students have had at one time or another.

The approach of this lesson is written with immigrant adults' needs inmind; it aims for students to inform about their own countries, andthen collectively share information about the US with each other.Students, because they have the opportunity to be first "the experts",will feel less intimidated about acquiring new information about taskswhich they formerly did with ease. This is an important point --preserving student confidence is vital, as any teacher of adult ESLknows.

As a bonus, you as the teacher will undoubtedly enjoy the opportunityto learn information about the students' native countries. Undoubtedly, using this plan as a basis, you could add more topics tosuit individualized needs. Your customization and the inherentrelevance of this lesson plan should foster lots of real communication.

Did You Know That in the USA They ...?

Compare and Contrast:

Suppose you were trying to orient a newly arrived foreigner to yournative country. You must give him a crash course in day-to-dayliving. Answer all of his or her questions. After that,with the others in the group, contrast the ways of your native countrywith the American way of doing things.

1. Finding an Apartment

Where do I look? How can you find the best deal? Must youput down a deposit? How big is the standard apartment? Areapartments measures in rooms, bedrooms, square feet, squaremeters? Are pets generally allowed in apartments?

2. Buying Clothes

Where is the most expensive place to buy clothes? Where can I getthe best bang for my buck? How are clothes sized: by inches,sizes, or what? Are used clothes available?

3. Meeting and Greeting

How do you address someone formally (what names/titles to youuse)? Do only men shake hands? What about hugging, kissing,and hand-holding -- who does this and when? What type of answersare given to questions such as "how are you" -- polite ones like "fine"or honest ones?
Discussion point: List the various greetings that you know in AmericanEnglish. Which are formal? How would you greet thefollowing people: your boss, your friend, your colleague, a femalestore clerk, a male store clerk, some stranger on the street from whomyou wanted directions?

4. I'm Hungry Already

Where do I purchase food? How often typically? Where is themost economical place to purchase food? Can I purchase food inbulk? What composes a typical grocery list? What items aredelicacies?

5. Call Me

How can I get telephone service in my apartment? Do I rent or buythe telephone? What is the most economical way to call longdistance? What number do I call in an emergency? Whatnumber do I call for directory assistance? What prefixes are fortoll-free numbers?

6. Getting Around

Do most people have cars? Explain the procedure for pumpinggasoline. Are people willing to walk to buy things? Do mostpeople use mechanics, or do a lot of people fix their own cars? How do I catch the bus? Can you flag it down or does it stop atdesignated points? What types of public transportation areavailable? Is flying economical?

7. Around Town

Do people often eat take-out or fast food? Do people often eat insit-down restaurants? What kinds of restaurants arepopular? Do restaurants commonly offer other kinds ofentertainment? What kinds of entertainment are popular?

8. Washing Clothes

Will I likely have laundry facilities in my apartment? What typeof money will I use for laundry mats? Is dry cleaning serviceavailable?

Conclusion

After having done this activity, you could hone in on more specificaspects that were of special interest, such as finding apartments andpurchasing cars. An abundance of free guides lends itself tonumerous role plays of such real life situations. There are alsosome relevant conversation start questions availible on thissite. Compare and contrast writing assignments of the nativeculture versus the target culture are also something that you may wantto consider as a follow-up. Implementing practical real-lifecultural information into your lessons keeps student interest high; mayit prove practical and rewarding for you.

Resources

• Conversation Questions for the ESL/EFL Classroom
  http://iteslj.org/questions/
• Effective Ways to Use Authentic Materials with ESL/EFL Students
  http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Kelly-Authentic.html