Local Lore: Does It Work in FL Class?

Abstract

This study is the continuation of the authors’ investigation of the topic raised in the article "Teaching Local Lore in EFL Class: New Approaches" by Yarmakeev, Pimenova, & Zamaletdinova (2016). Why again "local lore"? According to Safonova (2014), local lore in FL class pictures the "national map of the world", breeds love for homeland’s culture and history, and fosters a well-educated person. In this paper, it is explained, first, how pragmatic knowledge can help students understand the national character and self-identity and, second, how to get younger learners assimilate local lore knowledge in L2. The following hypothesis was suggested: in FL class, teaching local lore can contribute to forming school students’ understanding of their homeland’s history and culture. Acting out and pantomime were chosen to be key teaching activities in FL class, for as Kolkova (2011) claims, students enthusiastically and purposefully fulfill the task if they see the practical and/ or theoretical significance of the anticipated results. Thus, in this study it is shown how there can be incorporated research into a lesson with the usage of teaching techniques in an appealing way, that help school students assimilate local lore knowledge in FL class. The paper mostly discusses practices of the studied topic and offers teaching tips for foreign language teachers.

Keywords

• drama teaching techniques
• FL class
• independent t