LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN ENGLISH CLASSROOMS: GREETINGS, WAYS OF EXPRESSING POLITENESS

Abstract

This article informs us about language and culture in English, mainly greetings
and ways of expressing politeness. Politeness is an important positive character that
students should acquire in learning processes. Having a polite character, the students
will be able to respect teachers and fellow students and, in return, obtain respect from
them. This mutual respect will in turn create positive learning environments. In
English language classrooms, it is not only taught directly, but it is also integrated in
the teaching and learning processes. The integration can be through teaching language
functions (for example, apologizing, greeting, respecting, and thanking) where polite
verbal and non-verbal expressions in English are taught. The way to perform
politeness, however, could be different between Uzbek and English culture. As
students could use local language knowledge to learn English language, they could also
possible to use local culture to learn English culture. This paper explores the way local
cultural politeness is incorporated in English language classrooms.