Exploring Factors Influencing the Teaching of Culture and Its Challenges: Teachers’ Perceptions

Abstract

This study, as part of a more comprehensive master’s thesis, investigated the perceptions of Thai teachers of English about culture teaching. The aims of the study were twofold: (a) to identify the key factors influencing the teaching of culture in the English language classroom; and (b) to identify the key difficulties and problems in the teaching of culture in the English language classroom. A survey questionnaire was employed to collect the intended data. A total of 556 questionnaires were distributed to the teachers from 26 public universities in 6 geographical regions of Thailand. Eighty-four questionnaires were returned; however, only 65 were qualified for the analysis. The obtained data was analyzed by using SPSS. The descriptive statistics, namely, frequencies and percentages were used to discuss the teachers’ views on the aforementioned aspects. Despite the low return rate, the results indicated that three factors regarding teacher’s knowledge of the foreign culture, course description, and learners’ interest were believed to be significant in influencing the teaching of culture. Also, the teachers in the study pointed to teacher’s limited knowledge of the foreign culture, and learners’ lack of interest in learning the foreign culture as two significant difficulties and problems detrimental to the teaching of culture. Although the results of the study help shed some light on culture teaching in the Thai ELT context, further research is encouraged to either substantiate or challenge the findings obtained from this study.