Teaching EFL through culture and technologies

Abstract

The article refers to the experience of introducing the Country Studies Course into University Baccalaureate curriculum for students majoring in studying English as a foreign language in Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University, Russia. The purpose of the present research is to describe the program of the academic discipline, its objectives, content modules and teaching methods. The course, viewed as a contribution to University curriculum development, proves its effectiveness, helping students understand the countries, people and traditional values, get rid of existing prejudices, and it can be one of the ways contributing to mutual understanding, tolerance, appreciation of history, and culture. Information and communications technology is used as an effective teaching tool, meeting the needs of the modern generation of students. The study is a source of guidance and practical advice for novice and experienced teachers as well as administration seeking to compare existing programs with the aim to introduce the best practice into University education.