Socio-cultural context refers to the idea that language, rather than existing in isolation, is closely linked to the culture and society in which it is used. This means when language is learnt, the socio-cultural context in which it is used needs to be taken into consideration as well.

Example
Learners are looking at the language of advertisements. In order to do this effectively, they need to understand the culture in which the adverts function.

In the classroom
Activities that can raise awareness of socio-cultural context include using stories, analysing newspaper headlines, and looking at slang and idiomatic language.