Didactic units about Bogotá cultural heritage towards cultural awareness based on communicative task

Abstract

This action research can help in terms of developing and implementing authentic materials focus on cultural topics. Given that in this research the general objective pointed out to develop didactic units about Bogotá cultural heritage based on communicative tasks. As a solution, to face up the results of the need analysis that was applied to learners of an English institute located in Bogotá, which reflected that they had a lack of knowledge in terms of cultural heritage. Furthermore, in terms of English learning, they had a big interest to improve their English level. As a consequence, this project intended to involve learners on discovering and learning about their local culture in order to encourage an environment of cultural awareness; likewise, in the improvement of their English level about speaking skill. In order to identify the main characteristics of learners toward the implementation of the didactic units; it was necessary to collect data with instruments such as teacher´s journal, rubrics of evaluation and questionnaires. These instruments were subjected to a triangulation process. Finally, this research found that in terms of English language this study figured out the suitability of implementing authentic materials for making the foreign language more natural and closer. And in terms of cultural awareness, learners developed a feeling of love and respect for their city as well as identification to the place they normally are in.