06 Cross-Cultural Students in the Classroom

06 Cross-Cultural Students in the Classroom


    There are many different cultural paradigm based on the culture your were raised. These paradigms vary from state to state and from country to country. In the last few of my blogs, I have discussed some of these. Today, I am going to blog about culturally educational paradigms.

    As you have probably guessed, I will be taking a lot of my information and quotes from Professor Ivers of BYUI. Here is the link to the transcripts of his lesson: https://content.byui.edu/file/5ea5aa3a-0806-4dd5-8106-1ba4f85b3656/2/Cross-Cultural%20Students%20in%20the%20Classroom.html.

    I was raised in the South West. As was raised and went to school in Texas. In school, we were taught to respect the teachers. As an example, we were taught in Kindergarten to always answer our teachers with "Yes, Ma'am or no, Ma'am." If it was a male teacher, we would use Sir instead of Ma'am. I thought this was how all students in the USA were taught. It appears I was wrong in believing that. Professor Ivers gave an interesting story about his son. When his son moved from North Carolina to Rexburg, Idaho, he answered "Yes, Sir" to his teacher and was sent to the Principal's office for being "sarcastic". I find it interesting that there is such a difference in cultural education norms within the USA only a few states away.

    Internationally, there is also a larger difference in the cultural educational paradigms. Professor Ivers discussed the differences in cultural education norms between Asian cultures and those in the USA. He described it from the Asian students perspective. He relates how the Asian students love the ability to react with the teachers on a more equal standing. They enjoy feeling that they can speak with the teachers during class and after if they have questions. Yet they are aghast when they see the other students showing disrespect to the teacher by arriving late, eating in class, or leaving the room without permission being granted first! In their culture, teachers are to be shown respect, not to be questioned, and are too intimidating to be spoken to.

    I do like what I have been learning about cultural differences. I believe it is important for any teacher to understand the differences of cultural education norms. This is especially important for TESOL teachers. TESOL teachers will be teaching many students with vastly varying cultural educational paradigms. While it is important for the teacher to understand the students without getting upset at the students differences, it is equally important for the teacher to understand and help their student not be upset when their learning experiences are different than their expectations.


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