Sociocultural competence under the scope of 5th and 6th grade EFL Primary school teachers

Abstract

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) educational curriculum in La Rioja (Decreto Nº24, 2014) fosters the introduction of sociocultural and linguistic competence in EFL teaching. This research focuses on the study of 5th and 6th grade Primary School Education EFL teachers’ views on the inclusion of the sociocultural competence in their teaching practice. The study is based on an online questionnaire sent to fifteen teachers from public funded schools in La Rioja. The study revealed that, according to EFL teachers’ views, students and teachers showed a positive attitude towards the foreign language and culture. However, teachers noticed a lack of cultural knowledge on their students. Teachers tried to bring culture closer, considering that language and culture are closely linked. The results also purported that teachers adopted a communicative approach in their daily practice, and they preferred to teach cultural topics related to festivities and customs. Further research could be conducted in different grades of primary or secondary education in the same region to provide a complete picture of teachers’ perceptions. Students’ views would be also worth exploring.