Observation and Interpretation of Culture in English Advertising

Abstract

International mass media, particularly the advertising on TV and Internet plays an important role inthe changing of the usage and forms of global English. It is a challenging task for English teachers to copewith this influential, global language changes and look for alternative advantages for their students. Apartfrom commercial information, advertising sometimes conveys cultures, philosophy and concepts of valuesfrom one society to others. Some advertisements with these characteristics are adaptable forsupplementary teaching materials for descriptive speaking and writing.

This article reports how to develop KMUTT students’ descriptive skills at the same time as toencourage their foreign cultural awareness by observing and interpreting the message from theadvertisements. The by-product of this activity was that when the students observed the advertisingtechniques, they understood more about commercial propose and develop themselves to be wiser and morecareful consumers.