Intercultural learning and images in ELT: Exploring cultural imaginaries through photographs

Abstract

This chapter presents an argument for the relevance of using photographs for intercultural learning in English Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. More specifically, we suggest that by activating, expanding, and challenging the cultural imaginaries learners bring to and take from photographs, a more dynamic form of intercultural learning can be encouraged. A dynamic form of intercultural learning emphasizes the "inter" of intercultural and dismantles the dichotomy between "us' ' and "them'', making intercultural learning a personal and transformational process. Based on theoretical explorations and classroom experiences, we propose a set of general principles as well as three specific activities which have been implemented with secondary school and university-leve! learners. The activities all utilize photo­graphs as prompts for reflective dialogues surrounding cultural imaginaries and aim to create complexity and multiplicity in the learners' understanding of themselves and others. Encouraging this type of understanding is crucial given the increas­ingly complex and culturally diverse environments learners need to navigate in their everyday lives, formal education, and future work lives.