A learner cannot be truly fluent in a language without understanding the cultural context and history which has shaped the development of that language. As such, being immersed in the idioms, history and contemporary culture of a language are key to fully comprehending how it is used. Richard likes to use music and film in his teaching as methods of exploring culture through exposure to the language. He also believes that it is part of the role of a teacher to challenge learners' knowledge and understanding of the world as they develop their language or teaching skills. Personal acts are political acts and so all teachers have a responsibility to be aware of their own actions and to not shy away from contentious or difficult concepts in the classroom because to do so is to neglect the development of the ability of learners to interpret the world around them.