Unit 11: Ethics of Cultural Representation in Language Teaching
Conditions d’achèvement
This
unit explores the ethical responsibilities involved in representing cultures
within the language classroom. It examines the risks of stereotyping, cultural
appropriation, and colonial bias in teaching materials and practices, while
encouraging teachers to foster respectful and accurate intercultural dialogue.
The unit promotes inclusive pedagogy by highlighting strategies for
decolonising curricula, engaging learners critically with cultural content, and
amplifying underrepresented voices. By the end of this unit, students will be
able to recognize ethical dilemmas in cultural representation and develop
practices that support empathy, diversity, and fairness in language education.
1. Introduction
Culture
is inseparable from language, and teaching a language inevitably involves
representing cultures—those of the target language and of learners themselves.
This unit examines the ethical challenges that arise when teaching culture,
particularly in multilingual, multicultural, and postcolonial contexts. Ethical
representation is essential to foster mutual understanding, avoid harm, and
empower learners from diverse backgrounds.
