This work aims to show how our student's second language will develop when they are provided with a language-rich environment, where they can participate in interesting experience that involves using the English language.
As far as concerns EFL teaching in primary grades in Italy, we have to reach the following main aims:
- cognitive development and attitude to authonomous-study;
- communicative and linguistic awareness through the knowledge of the foreign language;
- socio-cultural competence and a positive attitude towards foreign languages and cultures.
This last aim could be considered the wider and deeper one, the aim dealing with both cognitive and affective sides of learning. It seems to me that a positive attitude toward culture does facilitate foreign language acquisition.
I shall try, therefore, to clear the idea that all this has something to do with the concept that a language is not only a series of words said or written one after another, but it comprehends features like gestures, ways of moving, acting, dressing, eating, in other words details of life that are usually called under the name of culture.
Another question to bear in mind is that by planning project work on topics related to elements of the foreign cultural aspects, we can help to promote our student's awareness, understanding and respect for other cultures in a manner appropriate to their age and cognitive development.
At the same time we can develop the communicative skills and all the cognitive skills related to the four skills, giving the students confidence on their learning processes, and trying to achieve a consistent level of authonomy in the capability of learning to learn.