The Integration of Foreign Language and Culture Teaching

Modern EFL coursebooks have to satisfy numerous demands. On the one hand they serve as a basis around which teachers can build their lessons and on the other hand they provide guidance and security for the learners in the process of language learning. Besides representing different areas of the target language they should also give students an insight into the target culture and society. By so doing language learners` intercultural awareness can be raised, which means that by discovering the target culture they will understand better their own as well. In my thesis I have made an attempt to discuss the role and nature of the target culture in the process of foreign language teaching from a theoretical point of view. The analyses of the coursebooks serve to show how theory works in practice that is how two commonly- used coursebooks manage to integrate language and culture teaching. I recommend my thesis to those teachers and coursebooks writers who share my view that language and culture are intertwined and inseparable thus it is vital to use culturally relevant materials whenever we teach a foreign language.