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Humanities
- ISSN: 2155-7993
- Journal of Modern Education Review
Using Popular Culture in TESOL Classroom — A Rewarding Challenge in
Southeast Asian Countries
Thanh Truc Truong
(University of Central Oklahoma, USA)
Abstract: English language learning has never ceased to lose hotness in developing countries, especially Asian ones in the southeast. Although teaching English as a second language (TESOL) has long established its foundation in the region, controversies denounce the ineffective traditional pedagogy where teaching English is heavily restrained by rigid testing systems that turn English learning into a mere ticket to top universities. Therefore, the concept of pop culture in modern education remains underutilized in Southeast Asian countries. Applying popular culture in Southeast Asian TESOL classrooms confronts more challenges from cultural resistance and lack of resources. These obstacles, nonetheless, should not impede introducing popular culture into ELLs’ (English Language Learners) curricula. Previewing how English is currently taught in the region, the paper will describe pop culture and how it can turn the science of stiff rules into the art of language. With current event textures and multimedia means, a boring fifty-five-minute lesson of drilling verb tenses, for instance, can become much more alive engaging students’ exercises in thrilling scenes of a blockbuster. Overall, the project will propose applicable solutions for unfolding this tool in an English classroom with the hope of escalating the TESOL system in Southeast Asia to a new height.
Key words: TESOL, ELL, Southeast Asian, English language learning, popular culture