The contemporary landscape of Teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language (TEFL/TESOL) is increasingly characterized by its global reach and the diverse cultural backgrounds of its learners.1 This evolving environment presents educators with both opportunities and challenges as they strive to create inclusive and effective learning experiences. A significant trend within this field is the growing recognition of the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness in language acquisition.1 The ability to navigate diverse cultural contexts is no longer considered peripheral but rather integral to successful communication in a globalized world. Furthermore, research indicates that cultural immersion, whether direct or simulated, plays a vital role in deepening language learning and fostering a more nuanced understanding of the target language.3

The Multicultural ESL Classroom: A Microcosm of the World

The modern ESL classroom is often a microcosm of the global community, bringing together students with a rich tapestry of nationalities, ethnicities, religions, and socio-economic statuses.4 This diversity, while offering a wealth of perspectives and learning opportunities, can also present complexities for both teachers and learners. Students may arrive with varying communication styles, learning preferences shaped by their cultural backgrounds, and differing expectations of the educational environment. Without strategies to effectively navigate these differences, misunderstandings can arise, student engagement may suffer, and some learners might feel marginalized.6 Therefore, ESL teachers need to be equipped with approaches that acknowledge the diversity within their classrooms and actively work to build bridges and foster a sense of unity.

Introducing “Cultura Franca”: Finding Shared Commonalities

Given the increasing prevalence of multicultural classrooms, educators face the task of fostering an environment where students from various cultural backgrounds can learn and interact effectively.4 While acknowledging and appreciating cultural differences is undoubtedly important, an approach that solely focuses on these distinctions can sometimes inadvertently create divisions or highlight potential areas of conflict. To complement this perspective, the concept of “cultura franca” offers a valuable framework for ESL teachers.7 “Cultura franca” emphasizes the identification of shared norms and commonalities between cultures as a foundational element for building respectful communication and interaction in diverse settings. This approach suggests that by focusing on universal human values and experiences, educators can create a more unified and harmonious learning environment where students feel a sense of shared identity and purpose.

The Essence of “Cultura Franca”: Bridging Cultural Divides

The concept of “cultura franca” provides such a bridge by shifting the initial focus from cultural divergence to cultural convergence.7 As articulated, “cultura franca” centers on the idea that despite the myriad ways in which cultures differ, there are also fundamental commonalities that underpin human interaction and societal structures. These shared norms and values can serve as a powerful starting point for building rapport and facilitating communication in multicultural ESL classrooms. Unlike approaches that primarily emphasize the exploration of cultural differences, “cultura franca” suggests that identifying what unites us can be just as, if not more, impactful in creating an inclusive and collaborative learning space. By highlighting these shared foundations, teachers can help students recognize their common humanity and build connections that transcend cultural boundaries.

Practical Strategies for Leveraging “Cultura Franca”

To effectively leverage “cultura franca” in the ESL classroom, teachers can employ a range of practical strategies. One effective method is to center lessons around universal themes that resonate across cultures.7 Topics such as family structures, the importance of friendship, the expression of emotions, common celebrations, and personal aspirations are experiences shared by people worldwide, albeit expressed in different ways. By exploring these themes through various activities, teachers can encourage students to recognize the underlying similarities in human experiences, even amidst cultural variations.

Reinforcing Shared Values and Promoting Positive Interactions

Another strategy involves explicitly discussing and reinforcing shared values.7 Values such as respect for others, empathy towards different perspectives, the importance of cooperation, and the mutual benefit of learning from one another are often held in high regard across diverse cultures. By bringing these values to the forefront of classroom discussions and activities, teachers can cultivate a sense of shared ethical understanding and promote positive interactions among students.

The Power of Storytelling and Collaborative Projects

Storytelling can also be a powerful tool for highlighting “cultura franca”.7 Sharing narratives and folktales from different cultures that illustrate common human experiences, struggles, and triumphs can help students connect on an emotional level and recognize the universality of certain themes and emotions. Similarly, collaborative projects that require students from different cultural backgrounds to work together towards a common goal can foster a sense of shared purpose and highlight the value of cooperation, irrespective of cultural differences.7

A Balanced Approach: Recognizing Commonalities and Celebrating Differences

While emphasizing commonalities, it is also beneficial to create opportunities for students to respectfully compare and contrast cultural practices related to the universal themes.7 This allows for a deeper understanding of how different cultures express shared values and navigate common human experiences, fostering intercultural competence without solely focusing on differences. The use of visual aids that represent diverse cultures while also underscoring shared human characteristics and emotions can further reinforce the idea of common ground. Creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable sharing aspects of their own cultures that align with universal themes and shared values is also essential for building trust and understanding.

Conclusion: Inclusivity and Global Citizenship

In conclusion, the increasing multiculturalism of ESL classrooms presents a compelling case for incorporating the concept of “cultura franca” into teaching methodologies. By actively seeking and emphasizing common ground through universal themes, shared values, and collaborative activities, teachers can foster inclusivity, enhance communication, and create a more positive and effective learning environment for students from diverse cultural backgrounds. This approach, when balanced with a sensitivity to individual cultural differences, offers a powerful strategy for building bridges and preparing students to be successful communicators and engaged global citizens.

One-Hour EFL Lesson Plan: Finding Our Shared Values

• Topic: Identifying Shared Values Across Cultures
• Objective: Students will be able to identify and discuss common values that are shared across different cultures.
• Materials: Whiteboard or projector, markers, sticky notes, pictures or short video clips depicting diverse cultural scenarios (family gatherings, acts of kindness, celebrations), worksheet with prompts.
• Procedure:
  1. (5 mins) Warm-up: Begin with a brief discussion about what “values” are. Elicit examples from students’ own perspectives (e.g., honesty, kindness, respect).
  2. (15 mins) Exploring Visuals: Show pictures or short video clips depicting various cultural scenarios. In pairs or small groups, ask students to discuss what values they observe in these scenarios, writing their ideas on sticky notes.
  3. (15 mins) Group Sharing and Categorization: Have each group share their identified values. As a class, categorize these values on the whiteboard (e.g., family, friendship, helping others, respect for elders).
  4. (15 mins) Worksheet Activity: Distribute a worksheet with prompts such as: “Think about a time you witnessed an act of kindness. What value did it show?”, “What are some important values in your family?”, “Can you think of a celebration in your culture that highlights a specific value?”. Students write their responses individually.
  5. (5 mins) Wrap-up: Have a brief class discussion about the common values identified and how recognizing these shared values can help us understand and connect with people from different cultures.

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SOURCES

• Al Hariri, K. (2015). Incorporating Culture in Teaching English as a Lingua Franca between Intercultural Awareness and Cultura Franca: A Reading in the Literature. MEXTESOL Journal,¹ 39(3). https://www.mextesol.net/journal/index.php?page=journal&id_article=46353
• Lucido, F., Jimenez, D., & Tang, S. (2024). Affirming culture and cultural identity in the bilingual/ESL classrooms. Frontiers in Education, 9, 1338671. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1338671/full
• Marielle Risse, D. (2024, April 10). Understanding the Impact of Culture on the TESOL Classroom. mariellerisse.com. https://mariellerisse.com/understanding-the-impact-of-culture-on-the-tesol-classroom/
• TESOLAU. (2023, April 13). The Role of Culture in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). TESOLAU Blog. https://tesolau.com/the-role-of-culture-in-teaching-english-to-speakers-of-other-languages-tesol/
• The TEFL Academy. (n.d.). Current Trends in TEFL. https://www.teflcourse.net/pillars/tefl-industry-insights/current-trends-in-tefl/