Didactic games for teaching culture in the class of Spanish for A1-A2 levels

Abstract

Culture is an indispensable component of Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. Knowledge of ways of life, traditions and mentality in Spanish-speaking countries will enable the learners to understand various dimensions of the language and will enhance their communication skills. The objective of this research is to propose guidelines for teaching cultural contents in Spanish classes for A1-A2 levels by using games, a strategy that will increase the students’ learning motivation.

Motivated by lack of cultural contents in beginners’ classes in the Bachelor of Arts Program in Spanish, Department of Western Languages, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University, this research is a case study of teaching cultural contents in A1-level and A2-level classes. The researchers have analyzed cultural contents in Spanish classes for A1-A2 levels in this program, studied related theories, namely Communicative Competence, Teaching culture in foreign language classes and Teaching games, created games with topics selected from the Curricular Plan of the Instituto Cervantes (PCIC) and tested their effectiveness with students in this program.