(This paper is submitted by  Dr.Khairi Obaid Al-Zubaidi, Associate Professor, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, (UTM)International Campus, Academy of Languages. khairi_alzubaidi@yahoo.com)

Culture is an inseparable portion of language. Culture is the main source of input to foreign language learning. The culture of English as a foreign language is not well understood in some of our English classrooms, in spite of a lot of attention that has been paid to studying the possibilities of enhancing the culture in learning and teaching of the foreign language programs over the last decades. The researcher in this paper aims to discuss the importance of cultural role of the foreign language and to address cultural awareness, cultural competence, cultural diversity, and the foreign language cultural standards as well as to enhance the language skills and cultural components in the classroom. For the purpose of this study, a questionnaire was developed by the researchers on a number of international high school teachers in Malaysia to support the main aim of this study.

Keywords: Cultural awareness, cultural competence Cultural Standards, English second / foreign language.

Introduction

Cultural studies have received a noticeable attention in the last decades due to the emergence of the English as a global language and the rapid growth in the fields of technology and communication through which our universe has become a global village. The cultural awareness, cultural standards and cultural competence are essential components of foreign language learning and teaching. Language and culture are intertwined, interconnected and inextricable. Language is one of the main components of culture. Language would not be learned well and completely without learners be aware of its culture. In this globalized century education teachers and foreign language teachers in particular should be more aware than ever of the cultural standards to enable him/her to face the new challenges. Mastering English opens one to a whole new world of knowledge previously reached by people from all round the world. A strong command of the foreign language and cultural awareness are essential perquisites for the foreign language teachers. (more…)