Intercultural encounters through picturebooks in the primary English language classroom
What is it about?
Not much is known about intercultural learning, a crucial aspect of learning an additional languge, in the primary English language classroom. It is suggested that one way to support such learning is through encountering complex and multifaceted characters in picturebooks, a particularly well-suited resource for teaching children. This paper explores young learners' intercultural learning through teaching in two picturebooks which had been purposefully selected for their potential to engage learners in intercultural encounters.
Why is it important?
Children today live in an interconnected world, through technology, shared challenges such as growing inequality, and classrooms are in many contexts, becoming increasingly diverse. Navigating this complexity requires intercultural understanding ,which includes respect for, empathy with and curiosity towards cultural others as well as understanding of one self. Language education can play an important role in developing the relevant competences required for being, and becoming, intercultural citizens. Encountering cultural others through literary fiction, such as picturebooks, and becoming aware of both similarities and differences beween oneself and others is one way to support intercultural learning from an early age in a way that is both appropriate, meaningful and feasible in the classroom.