CULTURAL ITEMS IN READING TEXTS IN EFL CLASSES

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to reveal the inseparability of language and culture in foreign language learning. To prove this hypothesis, a survey was conducted on the literature related to culture teaching in EFL and on the ELT course books to see cultural items in the reading texts. For the analysis of cultural items in the course books, a criteria was prepared under the influence of Byram’s (1993) course book evaluation criteria. Throughout the course book analysis, it was seen that the reading texts present culture but not well enough. Therefore, some suggestions are provided. In this respect, it can be said that a language teacher’s decision to work on cultural items separately within a language classroom is crucial to make the language learning process complete.