4 Using cultural knowledge

Figure 2 Francis Drake

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A cartoon-style drawing shows a portrait of Francis Drake wearing a red sash and with his right hand resting on a globe. The portrait is entitled 'Francis Drake'. Below him, a blond boy with a Union flag on his jumper has the speech bubble 'SIR Francis Drake', and a dark haired girl with the Spanish flag on her t-shirt has a speech bubble showing the words, ' Francis Drake THE PIRATE'.

Figure 2 Francis Drake

Knowledge of any differences and similarities between your own and the Spanish culture is also important for understanding native Spanish speakers. Your personal experiences will influence your interpretation of what you see and your interpretation of what people might be interested in or value most. So you need to be aware that these experiences might not always be transferable into other cultural contexts. Knowing about cultural similarities and differences will aid your understanding.