Learning a foreign language is learning a culture. Working on stereotypes in French as a Foreign Language class.

Abstract

Current trends in language teaching consider that learning a foreign language (FL) goes beyond the mere acquisition of linguistic elements, as it involves working with sociocultural aspects. Through language learning, students establish contact with another culture. However, by accepting this approach, a question arises immediately: what culture is learned when learning another language. In other words, we must reflect on how sociocultural aspects are presented through manuals, books and other materials used in FL learning. Numerous stereotypes emerge then about the culture associated with the foreign language being studied.  

This article reflects on stereotypes associated with French language. It considers the way in which the media (cinema, television, etc.) and traditional materials (textbooks, audios, e-resources, etc.) promote some stereotypes among French students. Then, it looks at the stereotypes prevalent among the students of the Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades (CCH) of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). It concludes with a proposal to reflect on the issue of stereotypes in class.