Volume 7-5 October 2011.

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Title
Culture and English Language Teaching in Iran
Authors

Mahdi Dahmardeh (Ph.D.)
University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
David Wray (Ph.D.)
University of Warwick, Coventry, Great Britain

Bio Date
Mahdi Dahmardeh is Assistant Professor of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics and Director of the Language Centre at the University of Tehran, Tehran, The Islamic Republic of Iran. His interest particularly lies in curriculum development along with research on textbooks for foreign/second language teaching.

David Wray is professor of Literacy Education and acting Director of the Institute of Education at the University of Warwick, Coventry, Great Britain. He has published over 40 books on aspects of literacy teaching and is best known for his work on developing teaching strategies to help pupils access the curriculum through literacy.

Abstract
The present article arises from a three-year cross sectional investigation into English language teaching in secondary schools in Iran and it aims to discuss the role of the culture of English speaking countries within English language teaching in Iran. In order to investigate this situation, a range of research instruments were used including a thorough review of literature, a desk based analysis of existing curriculum documentation, questionnaires and interviews completed by English language teachers in Iran and some of the authors of the curriculum and its linked textbooks.

It will be explained while the issue of culture has been addressed and considered within the newly designed national curriculum in Iran, this issue appears to play no role in either the textbooks or the English language teaching programme.

Keywords: Culture, English, Language, Teaching, Iran