Communication and CultureA Workshop for International GTAs

Educational Approach in the U.S.

Balance Lecture and Interactive Activities Too much lecture, students fall asleep Too much interaction, students lose respect for you Individual learning styles (Visual, Oral, Kinesthetic)

You get to set the tone of the class Remember that “friendship” is not the goal, learning

is. Give clear expectations from the very beginning

The Rules of Engagement To Raise or Not To Raise your hand to ask questions Don’t let students interrupt you while you are

speaking and - Don’t interrupt a student while he/she is speaking - unless…

When to Interrupt a Student:

When you have a student who loves to dominate class discussions: Allowing one student to dominate frustrates the

other students – they expect you to provide equal opportunity for all students to share

Implement a system of calling on students by name, rather than leaving it open for anyone to answer

To interrupt, use these polite phrases: Excuse me for interrupting, but… I’m sorry to interrupt, but… May I interrupt you for a moment?

Hints for Smooth Class Discussions:

Validate every contribution to class discussion If content is right, validate both student and

content If content is wrong, validate the student, but

clarify the content so that the class knows the answer was wrong

Use a variety of class organization plans Content presentation – both teacher and student Small Group (3-5) & Large Group discussion (5-10) Pair discussions

Encourage students to ask long questions after class

Grading Policies

Be very clear about the grade cut-offs from the start

If you are going to offer extra-credit, you must discuss that with the entire class to be fair

Facilitate a clear discussion regarding late assignments – accept or not, lose points? Post your policy in writing and be consistent

Be a Teacher and a Student

Be careful to establish a clear understanding that everyone can learn from everyone

Difference between factual info and worldviewFocus on Content vs. Focus on Context

(Gudykunst,1993; Triandis, 1994) Hofstede’s cultural framework was originally

comprised of four dimensions: Individualism/ Collectivism Uncertainty Avoidance Masculinity/Femininity Power Distance

Individualism/Collectivism

Individualists value independence and tend to believe that personal goals and interests are more important than group interests.

Collectivists tend to view themselves as members of an extended family or organization and place group interests ahead of individual needs.

U.S. ranked #1 of 39 countries – High Individualism

Uncertainty Avoidance

Societies with higher levels of uncertainty avoidance feel a greater need for consensus and written rules intolerant of deviations from the norm.

Societies characterized by low uncertainty avoidance rely less on written rules more risk tolerant.

U.S. ranked 31 of 39 – Low Uncertainty Avoidance

Masculine/Feminine

In a society which tends more toward “masculine” characteristics individuals are more aggressive, ambitious, and competitive

Individuals in more feminine societies more modest, humble, and nurturing.

U.S. ranked 13 of 39 – Moderate Masculinity

Power Distance

Individuals in societies characterized by higher levels of power distance tend to follow formal codes of conduct are reluctant to disagree with superiors

Individuals in societies that are lower in power distance do not feel as constrained by perceived or actual differences

in status, power, or position.

U.S. ranked 25 of 39 – Moderate Power Distance

Remember that words are “culture bound”

Examples of verbs Mention vs. Clarify vs. Emphasize

Examples of adjectives Positive, negative, and neutral connotations

Idiomatic expressions Better to ask rather than pretend to understand

Nonverbal Communication

Eye Contact International students from Asian cultures may avoid

prolonged eye contact – this is a sign that they highly respect you.

Hand gestures Try to avoid pointing directly at someone and also

avoid the “OK” hand gesture (very rude in some cultures)

Promoting Cultural Diversity

Be intentional about asking questions like: What might the impact of this business marketing

strategy be like in Japan vs. the U.S.? Has anyone experienced this concept from a

different cultural perspective? How would someone from an individualistic society

like the U.S. respond to this sports advertisement differently than someone from a collective society, like Saudi Arabia?

Be careful not to use good/bad – but show uniqueness

Final Notes

Strong preparation & organizationBe Yourself! – American students enjoy

learning the perspectives of people from other cultures

Be flexible with your lesson plans Pay attention to what’s working & what’s not

Use Blackboard to post your lecture notes But balance with required in-class activities (60/40 rule)

Confidence, with a touch of humility What to do if you don’t know the answer to a question…

Work hard to correct your pronunciation Free CIE tutors can help with this Computer Software in CIE lab “Pronunciation Power”