The Impact of Cultural Awareness on English Language Acquisition

Abstract

The acquisition of English as a foreign language (EFL) is not solely a linguistic endeavor but a deeply cultural process. As English functions globally as a medium for communication, education, and commerce, cultural awareness emerges as a critical factor in effective language acquisition. This study aims to explore the impact of cultural awareness on English language acquisition among EFL learners, particularly within the Indonesian educational context. Employing a qualitative literature review methodology, the research synthesizes findings from ten academic studies published between 2019 and 2025. Thematic content analysis was used to identify patterns related to intercultural competence, sociocultural influences, and culturally grounded instructional strategies. Findings reveal that learners with heightened cultural awareness exhibit better communicative competence, including understanding pragmatics, idiomatic expressions, and appropriate language use in diverse contexts. Integrating cultural elements such as folklore, oral traditions, and digital intercultural experiences enhances both language proficiency and learner engagement. Moreover, culturally responsive pedagogy—such as using local narratives, hip-hop-based phonemic instruction, and comparative cultural projects—proves effective in supporting deeper and more sustainable language development. The study concludes that cultural awareness acts as both a catalyst and a context for English language acquisition. Culturally oriented teaching not only enriches learners’ linguistic abilities but also equips them with the intercultural competence necessary for global interaction. In the Indonesian context, where research on this subject remains scarce, these findings are essential for informing inclusive and adaptive language curricula.