Fostering Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity in VJ Campilan’s All My Lonely Islands
Keywords:
literature, cultural awareness and sensitivity, content analysis, Batangas City, PhilippinesAbstract
A novel can be an excellent resource in teaching culture-related values. In this study, the novel “All My Lonely Islands” by VJ Campilan was analyzed to bring to the fore the themes, literary devices, literary elements that show cultural awareness and sensitivity, and the figures of speech that highlight cultural cognition. The impact of the author’s portrayal of the Filipino culture and integration of cultural competence in teaching literature were also sought. Through content analysis, the objectives of the study were met. Themes such as the quest for self, friendship, the concept of family, faith in God, and the problem of assimilation were emphasized. Cultural awareness and sensitivity were best shown through the author’s use of setting, characters, conflict, dialogue, and metaphor. As a Third-Culture Kid (TCK), the author was able to portray the Filipino culture on her passport country and her hometown on a first-hand basis. Activities were proposed for integration in the teaching of literature to foster cultural awareness and sensitivity among college students.
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