Developing Students' English Language Skills and Cultural Awareness by Means of Food Topics

Improving Language Skills And Vocabulary

Due to the fact that food topics are highly motivating in English classes, teachers can develop both students’ language competence and performance in communicative contexts that involve various activities that aim at combining receptive and productive skills, as well as at increasing students’ ability to interact. As stated by CEFR (2011, p. 14), “as processes, reception and production (oral and/or written) are obviously primary, since both are required for interaction” and are taught according to an integrated approach. In other words, it is essential to conceive classroom activities in which language skills are practiced in conjunction with each other. Furthermore, designing an integrated syllabus that inter-relates skills, functions, grammar and vocabulary will enable students to become proficient language users as it “seeks to provide for mutual reinforcement” (Richards & Schmidt, 2010, p. 288) of its different components.