This article is structured around four questions related to the arts, language and intercultural education. Are the claims for the value of the arts over-stated? Does the use of the arts in the service of non-art outcomes run the risk of distorting the art form itself? Is there a danger that incorporating the arts in language education will distract from its central purpose? Are there any risks in employing the arts to support the teaching of interculturalism? These questions are used as a focus for discussing theoretical perspectives in the arts, including justifying the arts, theories of art, the importance of form, the concept of ‘aesthetic experience’, ‘learning in’ and ‘learning through’ the arts. These issues are examined in order to illuminate practical implications related to the use of the arts in the context of language and intercultural education. The article highlights the way in which theoretical perspectives can help widen pedagogic horizons.

本文围绕与艺术、语言和跨文化教育相关的四个问题展开。对艺术价值的主张是否被夸大了？使用艺术服务于非艺术成果是否存在扭曲艺术形式本身的风险？将艺术融入语言教育是否会分散其中心目标的注意力？使用艺术来支持跨文化教学是否有任何风险？这些问题被用作讨论艺术理论观点的焦点，包括证明艺术、艺术理论、形式的重要性、“审美体验”的概念、“学习”和“通过艺术学习”。研究这些问题是为了阐明与在语言和跨文化教育背景下使用艺术相关的实际意义。这篇文章强调了理论视角可以帮助拓宽教学视野的方式。