Context and Culture in Language Teaching (Oxford Applied Linguistics) [Paperback]

Claire Kramsch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 17, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0194371875 | ISBN-13: 978-0194371872

This book focuses attention on cultural knowledge not just as a necessary aspect of communicative competence, but as an educational objective in its own right-as an end, as well as a means, of language learning.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Claire Kramsch is at University of California, Berkeley.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 17, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0194371875
• ISBN-13: 978-0194371872
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #658,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ground-breaking synthesis, January 24, 2006

By 

nlonghu "nebula" (Finland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Context and Culture in Language Teaching (Oxford Applied Linguistics) (Paperback)

This superb book, much cited in recent articles and studies, popularized the notion that culture is not something "out there", as conceived and taught in many language classrooms, but something created in interaction between people separated culturally, historically and socially. As Brian Street remarked about 6 years ago, "culture is a verb". This book has been instrumental in changing notions of what culture is and how it can be explored in all its rich manifestations--whether in the classroom or out.

The depth and sophistication of the book, far from being inhibitory, invites constant re-readings and new insights: 6 years of reading and re-reading has not exhausted the possibilities. Kramsch's remarkable blend of incisive yet delicately nuanced phrasing, yields a startling clarity of thought and style rare in academic discourse these days. The temptation to plagiarize is hard to resist. It is a pleasure to read this book, and if the term "food for thought" were ever well applied, it would be to this book.

Because of its inter-disciplinary approach and ground-breaking nature, this book should be read by anyone in fields remotely connected to language and culture--not just teachers mainly concerned with applying insights to the classroom. Language teaching is often dumbed-down and reduced to a matter of simply applying the currently-accepted methodology; Kramsch has revealed that language teaching can be (and should be) an intellectual endeavour. She has done nothing less than to revolutionize the nature of the field. We have everything to thank her for it.