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    Cultural Comparisons

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    At a Glance:

    Grades:10, 11, 12, 7, 8, 9
    Subject:World Languages
    Topic:Culture, Communication, Comparisons, Expression
    Lesson Length:45 mins - 1 hour

    Standards / Framework:

    What will students learn in this activity?

    Students will compare the cultures studied and their own.

    What should students know before this activity?

    Students should be able to identify aspects of culture and know basic facts about different cultures, including cultures where the target language is spoken.

    How can teachers introduce this lesson?

    • Ask students:
      • “What are some interesting things you’ve learned about the countries where (insert language) is spoken?”
      • “Why is it important to compare different cultures?”
      • “How does learning about culture help us respect customs in other countries?”

    What will students do?

    • As a class, have students share what they’ve learned about the cultures that speak the target language.
    • Have students share their favorite cultural traditions or elements from their own culture or where the target language is spoken.
    • Using the sample comic as a guide, have students create a comic comparing and contrasting several aspects of culture.

    How can teachers wrap up the lesson?

    • Have students share their comics with the class or in small groups.
    • Have students explain why they chose the cultural elements featured in their comic.
    • Discuss why it’s important to be able to talk about and compare different cultures.
    • Emphasize that part of learning a language is learning about culture to help create respect and appreciation for people from different backgrounds.

    How can teachers differentiate this activity?

    • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
    • Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
    • Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
    • Students may not strongly identify with a culture; help them brainstorm a culture or community to which they belong.
    • Allow students to use digital dictionaries/translators as appropriate for your class policy.

    Related Resources:

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    Related Ideas

    Cultural Products

    Students will focus on understanding one product (books, art, food, clothing, music, etc.) of a culture related to the language being studied and the perspectives (attitudes, meanings, values, etc.) that are revealed through the use of the product chosen.

    Two Sides to a Story

    Students will make connections to emerging global themes, e.g., poverty, economy, environment, etc. by examining diverse perspectives as they relate to the language and culture being studied.