Unit 11: Ethics of Cultural Representation in Language Teaching

2. Ethical Approaches to Teaching Culturally Sensitive Content

Teaching culture involves making ethical decisions about:
·       Whose cultures are presented (dominant vs. marginalised).
·       How they are portrayed (complex, respectful, accurate vs. simplistic or tokenistic).
Ethical teaching encourages learners to:
·       Engage critically with cultural content.
·       Reflect on their own assumptions.
·       Value diversity and difference.
Educators should strive to create a classroom environment that promotes intercultural empathy and critical thinking.