Abstract：With the rapid development of globalization, all of the countries combine with each other. Furthermore, English has become the most popular language around the world.  As we all know, China has the most population who are studying English.  Due to the differences in geography, development level, different countries and nationalities pose different cultures, customs, histories and religion, misunderstandings often occur in English teaching. Language is the carrier of culture. Unless understanding the culture of the target language can English learners use the language properly, and make successful communication in cross-cultural communication. This thesis aims to explore the importance of cultivating cultural awareness, and advocate English educators to attach importance to the cultivation of cultural awareness, on the basis of that, give some views on this topic.

Keywords: cultural awareness; cross-cultural communication; English teaching; cultivation

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-2

3. The Importance of Cultivating Cultural Awareness in Middle School English Teaching-2

3.1 The Cultivation of Cultural Awareness Lays a Foundation for Learning and Using English Properly-3

3.2 The Cultivation of Cultural Awareness Lays a Foundation for Shaping Students’ Exploratory World View-3

3.3 Cultivating Cultural Awareness Shows Students the Way to Form Their Cross Cultural Communicating Competence-4

3.4 Cultivating Cultural Awareness Contributes to Improve Students’ Reading Competence-4

4. Language, Culture and Teaching-4

4.1 The Relations between Culture and Language-5

4.2 The Relations between Culture and English Teaching-5

5. Aspects of the Cultivation of Cultural Awareness-6

5.1. Daily Conversation-6

5.2 Names of People and Places-8

5.3 Individualism-8

5.4 Connotation-9

5.5 Old Sayings and Idioms-9

6. The Barriers in Middle School English Culture Teaching-9

6.1. Examination-Oriented Education-9

6.2. Traditional View on Language-10

6.3. Historical and Traditional Teaching Methods-10

7. The Development of Students’ Cultural Awareness-10

7.1 Vocabulary Penetration-11

7.2 Discussion- Based Teaching Methods-12

7.3 Multimedia Assisted Teaching-12

7.4 Organizing a Variety of Extracurricular Activities-12

8. Conclusion-12

Works Cited-14