ContentsAbstract 2 2I. Introduction 2 2II. main body 2 21. Problems aroused by different cultural backgrounds222. Importance of cultural background knowledge in language teaching 4 43. How to carry out the teaching of cultural background knowledge1010III. Conclusion 1212Cultural Background Knowledge and English Teaching汤红汤红玲玲Abstract:I. The relationship between language and culture is very important .The different cultural backgrounds can arouse problems in English t eaching:A. Some difficulties in communication caused by different cultural backgrounds B. Brief illustration of relationship between language and culture C. Problems in English teaching and teaching material caused by neglect of cultural background knowledge II. Cultural background knowledge in language t eaching is very important :A Necessity of cultural background knowledge in aural comprehension B. Necessity of cultural background knowledge in oral English C. Necessity of cultural background knowledge in reading 1. From the respect of allusions as illustration2. From the respect of idioms as illustration D. Necessity of cultural background knowledge in writing and translation III. How to carry out the teaching of cultural background knowledge :Selecting proper teaching material ;Encouraging wide reading ;Paying attention to proper wording in the classroom;Using native English video tapes and films;Encouraging communication with native speakers of English ;Holding lectures about culture Key words : relationship ; cultural ; background ; English; t eachingI. IntroductionThe relationship between language and culture is very important。In English teaching ,because of the different cultural backgrounds and the teachers ignore the cultural backgrounds, so many problems can be aroused. so we only teach both language and cultural backgrounds, we can improve the students performance better. II. main body1. Problems aroused by different cultural backgrounds1.1.Once an American was visiting the home of a Chinese. As the visitor saw the hosts wife, he said,“ Your wife is very beautiful.” The host smiled and said:“ Where? Where?”which caused the Americans surprise, but still he answered: “ Eyes, hair, nose”an answer that the host found a bit puzzling. The surprising was caused by different cultures. “Where? Where?”meaning“哪里！哪里！”in Chinese is a kind of humble saying .But the American understood it as “Which parts of the body are beautiful?“ So, the reason for both sides misunderstandings was differences in customs and habits. Each was expressing and understanding what the other said according to his or her culture .Events like these are fairly common when people use different languages and cultures communicate. Because of cultural differences, misunderstandings may arise, although the language used in communication may be faultless. The same words or expressions may not mean the same thing to different peoples. Because of cultural differences, a serious question may cause amusement or laughter,a harmless statement may cause displeasure or anger. Because of cultural differences, jokes by a foreign speaker maybe received with blank faces and stony silence. Yet the same stories in the speakers own country would leave audience holding their sides with laughter.1.2.Language is a part of culture and plays a very important role in it. On the one hand, without language, culture would not be possible. On the other hand, language is influenced and shaped by culture; it reflects culture. In the broadest sense, language is the symbolic representation of a people, and it comprises their historical and cultural backgrounds as well as their approach to life and their ways of living and thinking. Language and culture interact and understanding ofone requires understanding of the other.Cultures differ from one another. Each culture is unique.Learning a foreign language well means more than merely mastering the pronunciation, grammar, words and idioms. It means learning also to see the world as native speakers of that language see it, learning the ways in which their language reflects the ideas, customs, and behavior of their society, learning to understand their “language of the mind”. Learning a language, in fact, is inseparable from learning its culture. However, it has not been given enough care to in our teaching for a long time. 1.3 .Many students haveacquired four skillslistening, speaking, reading and writing according to the demand of our traditional syllabus, they often make mistakes in application of language to real life, becauseour teaching and teaching materials attach importance to language forms but ignore the social meanings of language forms and language a