A Foreign Civilization course, what for?

Abstract

Few people agree on what is- or should be the content of a foreign civilization course. Judging from the practice of some teachers and textbooks of some authors, it would, at times, seem that it is mainly a history course or a course in geography or a mixture of foreign economics, sociology and anthropology or, again a music or art course with much guitar playing and a lot of documentary films and slides.

Instead of spending most of our time discussion this highly controversial issue, I wonder whether it might not be more advisable to attack the problem at the other end, that is, consider first the generally acknowledged reasons for which people need a civilization course, and then draw some conclusions about what ought to be taught and how it should be presented.