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Guide > Pedagogical Questions > How much do I, as a teacher, need to know about French culture?

How much do I, as a teacher, need to know about French culture?
The main characteristic of Cultura is that students themselves construct their own learning and understanding of the foreign culture. They do this with the help of their transatlantic partners, the materials on the Web and the readings you will assign to them. This means that you are not the one imparting sole knowledge to them. Your most important role is to make sure your students analyze, probe, compare, contrast, apply appropriate reasoning.

This does not mean that your students will stop considering you as the ultimate authority and will stop asking you questions (about vocabulary, French habits, practices, etc....). Don't hesitate to answer them, of course. But let your students know that there is often not just one response and urge them to ask the question(s) directly on the forums to their French partners.

It usually makes no real difference whether you are a native speaker of French or not. Even a native speaker will not have all the answers. One of the reasons is that French vocabulary and practices evolve. The French students are indeed very lileky to use words, abbreviations and expressions you don't know or mention facts you may not be aware of. That is no problem: the French students (as well your partner) are the informants and questions can be posed to them, by the students. In the process, students will realize that there often is no single answer, but different perspectives on a same subject.