Unit 11: Ethics of Cultural Representation in Language Teaching

5. Representation Ethics in Teaching Materials

Many language textbooks and resources reproduce biased views, such as:
·       Underrepresenting minority cultures.
·       Using Western lifestyle as a norm.
·       Depicting "other" cultures as exotic or deficient.
Ethical review questions:
·       Are different cultures portrayed with equal depth?
·       Is the material inclusive and respectful?
·       Are stereotypes avoided?
📊 Activity: Analyse a page from a textbook. What implicit messages are being communicated?