Teach English in Wanhe Nongchang - Anqing Shi

Cultural Sensitivity in the classroom I decided to choose the topic Cultural Sensitivity in the Classroom as I see this is an area that can so often make or break a teacher. I have lived internationally for the most part of the last 20 years and am acutely aware of the advantages this experience offers me, as compared to that of a first-time overseas employee. Likewise, I sometimes cringe when I remember the embarrassing clangers that I have dropped (proverbially speaking) over the years. For the past 12 years I have worked in the same school in egypt. In my school we do, unfortunately, have a high turn-over of staff, this is all too often, in my view, because of misunderstandings or a naivety of the local culture. My research was largely conducted by interviewing Gerard De La Garde, an Occupational Psychiatrist who works as a consultant for large multinational companies, offering training to their employees on the means to a successful transition into a new culture. The tips that Mr. De La Garde offered can be summarized as follows: 1. Do not make assumptions or generalise about the extent of a culture, cultures vary quickly within given areas, for example there is no such thing as an indian culture. 2. Do not assume that your personal teachings of history are the only version of events; others may have a very different interpretation of past events. The same can be said for current events and politics. 3. Do not try to read too much into body language unless you are very familiar with the local culture. In some cultures eye contact and smiling are not given such value, or even encouraged as much, as they may be elsewhere. This can sometimes be misinterpreted as a sign of being unfriendly or impolite. 4. Do not join in a negative conversation about your host country, even if the local person started it, many may find it offensive. Similarly, do not rave about how wonderful your country is, especially when making comparisons. 5. Do not become overly self-assured as a ?Western expert?, draw on local expertise and try to encourage a relationship as equals as far as culture is concerned. 6. Do try to learn about cultural taboos before arriving at a foreign posting, insulting the king in thailand, offering your hand (male) to an egyptian Muslim woman, drinking before your host in France are all at the very least considered impolite. 7. Acknowledge your relative ignorance of your host country?s culture, it can be an enjoyable experience for all to discover each others culture, the students will most likely take pride in teaching the teacher something. 8. Do take care when pronouncing your students? names. If you cannot pronounce their name, do not joke about it being unpronounceable; rather recognize that it is your (the teacher?s) weakness that he cannot pronounce it. Then try and do better the next time. 9. Do try to be humorous and happy with your students but be very watchful and careful to not overstep the mark, smile plenty and remember to be polite! In short, it is not easy to generalize about cultural sensitivity. However, the above guidelines can be applied across the board. A former colleague of mine who had recently completed a thesis for her PhD entitled Teacher Perceptions of Parent Conflict Styles pointed out to me that experience of working and living in a foreign culture doesn?t only teach you about their culture, but it also teaches you things that you never noticed about your own. This perception of how you appear to others is invaluable when developing an awareness of cultural sensitivities.