The Host Country Culture in Second Language Acquisition

A Case Study in an International School

Authors

  • Olja Milosevic International School of Belgrade

Keywords:

international schools, second-language learning, cultural heritage, interaction

Abstract

This paper records how a group of high school second-language English learners in an international school studied their host country’s cultural heritage. The school enrolls international and host country students and both groups of students participated in this study. They collaborated on a cultural project that involved using host country heritage as a way to develop language proficiency. During the process, students looked for commonalities among different cultures, inquired into the past, and developed both speaking and social skills. As they attempted to discover the intricacies of the local community and its culture, they had to use skills and strategies that increased the likelihood of successful interaction.  Their academic engagement increased and at the same time, their intercultural sensitivity was increased.

Author Biography

Olja Milosevic, International School of Belgrade

Olja Milosevic, The International School of Belgrade, has been involved in second and foreign language teaching at all levels in primary, secondary and tertiary education. She holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics and is primarily interested in second language acquisition and maintaining the mother tongue. Olja is also involved in teacher training.

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Published

2021-01-28

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 4 (2020): Modern Didactic Approaches and Methods for Second Language Teaching to Students with a Migrant or Refugee Background

Section

Theme Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Olja Milosevic

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