The Impact of Integrating Culture along the Four English Language Learning Skills

Abstract

Regarding the complex relationship that relates between language and culture, specifically the relationof culture to language learning, the present research is concerned with identifying the core objective beyond including culture in foreign language teaching, and the role it plays in facilitating language learning and understanding process. It is common for language learning to primarily be based on mastery of four major competences: listening, speaking, reading, and writing for the purpose of ensuring a better communication. In this regard, the present study is conducted under the object of revealing the place culture occupies in language learning, as well as highlighting its effectiveness. Differently put, this study is conducted for the core objective of investigating whether teachers consider culture as the fifth skill, the ways culture affects the language learning skills, and whether teachers include it in teaching the skills. In the present research we opted for two instruments: the questionnaire and the interview for both quantitative and qualitative data collection, administered to ten (10) high school English teachers to accomplish and examine the research issue. The obtained results showcase the importance of culture toward language learning in the Algerian system of education, and demonstrate that culture is not considered as the fifth skill; however, it is integrated with the four skills.