Cultural Elements in Spanish Teaching : A study of elementary school students' perceptions of the role of culture in language learning

The aim of this study was to investigate students' perceptions of the role of culture in the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language, which teaching methods they consider most meaningful for integrating cultural content, and what types of culture they prefer to learn about in school. The study was conducted through an instructional intervention in which students were exposed to various cultural topics from the Spanish-speaking world over a two-week period. Data collection consisted of a questionnaire and written reflection tasks. The material was analyzed using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The results indicate that students largely perceive culture as a central component of language learning and that they believe that cultural content contributes to increased motivation and improved language understanding. Teaching activities involving everyday and authentic cultural expressions, such as food, music, film, and traditions, were particularly appreciated by the students. Furthermore, the findings show that students prefer cultural content they can personally relate to, while literature and history are also considered important within the school context. The results also suggest that the students developed an increased awareness of cultural diversity within the Spanish-speaking world. Overall, the study confirms previous research emphasizing the close relationship between language and culture.