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ESL forum >
Teaching material > Intercultural knowledge
Intercultural knowledge
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blunderbuster
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Intercultural knowledge
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Hi there,
I don �t know about you but I think we need an FAQ section! Just kidding! (Have I pushed some people over the edge?)
Yesterday there was a lovely "telling the time" domino among the new contributions. The author said that, for religious reasons, she couldn �t use dice games in her classes. I was amazed to hear that.
Once I asked students to sign the attendance list and the only pen I had was red, one student told me that he would rather use his own pen because, in his culture, writing one �s name in red meant that one wanted to kill oneself. Well, I was amazed then, too.
Would you like to share any experiences or knowledge about similar issues?
Kind regards
KK
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22 Apr 2010
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verybouncyperson
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This is quite a silly one, but your story about the pen reminded me...
I used to teach in a town in the provice of Sevilla - football fans will know that if you live in Sevilla, you either support Sevilla (the reds) or Betis (the greens). My class of 7 year-olds wouldn �t write with the red board pen if they supported Betis, or the green board pen if they supported Sevilla!
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22 Apr 2010
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blunderbuster
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Hum, that is a very special kind of "culture.";o)
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22 Apr 2010
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maryfiji
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I wondered why my students would all stand up and walk around the class or outside whenever the bell went to signal a new period, until someone explained that in their country they always have a 5 minute break between lessons.
Knowing that, got rid of some of my frustration with new students. Now I just explain that we don �t do that here.
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22 Apr 2010
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joy2bill
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I think it pays to be aware of cultural differences. (Yes, I know you all agree!)
However it is very easy to offend someone because we don �t know or understand the differences.
So in class:
I �m always careful never to put Muslim students with partners of the other sex until I know that they are okay with it.
I try to hand out papers to Asian students with two hands as I know this is part of their ways.
My rewards (ie sweets) are always Halal (containing only beef or plant gelatine).
I never blow my nose in class because I realise it offends my Brazilians. (Okay in Australia)
I avoid pointing my foot at Thai students or touching them (especially on the head)
I do not expect Pacific Islanders to look me in the eye as it is not polite for them.
I am guilty of one "no-no", however... I do sit on the table which is so wrong (especially in the Maori culture, and I �m a Kiwi!)
My excuse is that I �m short and I like to be able to see everyone. I say that the tables in the classroom are never used for food but.........(Who am I kidding?)
Oh well, I �m not perfect!
What other differences should be aware of? Let �s share them!
Joy |
22 Apr 2010
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lshorton99
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Teresa - go Betis! I don �t use red pens in my class!!!!!!
I remember being told when I first started teaching, never to point at students as that is offensive in some cultures - you indicate with the whole hand.
Chewing gum - everyone in Spain chews gum in class and I can �t stand it. Then I read an interesting article that suggested that chewing gum actually aids concentration so now I �m wondering if I should allow it!
I do know that I have to be very careful with my sense of humour. I was once talking to some students about how I �d never made it to Morocco despite nearly going a few times. I said that once I �d booked it but then my grandmother died which was very inconvenient of her. My students looked like I �d just confessed to murder!
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22 Apr 2010
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dolcedulcinea
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My God!
In italy red pens are teachers � first instrument of work! Some old fashioned teachers also use a red and blue pencil, and in that case the red is for little mistakes, the blue for the bigger ones.
maybe it �s because I �m teaching in a primary school, but pupils are nvited to accept our school rules, also if their not Italians (and we have multietnic classes).
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22 Apr 2010
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zailda
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Hi!
In fact, if I had to remember so many "extra rules" in class it would drive me crazy. I tell my students in our first class that I won �t do whatever that�s part of anyone / someone / everyone �s culture because we are there to learn English and something about British / American culture and the first thing we should do is to learn how to stand / accept / adapt to someone else �s culture / religion / beliefs.
So I declare the classroom a "neutral territory" where we should forget about our own culture and try to imagine we are all Americans and act accordingly. And if someone thinks s/he �s is not able to do that or to forgive our ignorance about his/her own culture, "that large wooden retangle is the door - please, use it now".
Have a nice day.
EDIT --> I tell parents the same, and if they don�t agree I let them know that there are other 19 teachers at my school and some may be more flexible towards this matter.
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22 Apr 2010
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