Abstract

This article discusses intercultural competence in teaching foreign languages as well as the suitability of the foreign country’s image. Research has shown that many English-language textbooks tend to focus on a reduced number of ethnic groups, ignoring the tapestry of peoples of the English-speaking world. In the case of Britain, ethnic minorities, among which Indian, Pakistani, and Caribbean communities are to be found, constitute a growing percentage of British society, yet they are usually forgotten when culture is taught in TEFL. According to the guidelines on intercultural education provided by the Council of Europe, it is our task as teachers to include in our lesson a fair representation of society, but is it implemented in practice? Do teachers cover ethnic minorities when teaching British culture? This article aims at bringing the “other British” into the EFL class in an attempt to develop intercultural competence.