10/25/21; Week 7: "Cross-Cultural Students in the Classroom"

Opinion: Should schools put CCTV cameras in classrooms? | The Educator K/12

 Introduction...

In a TESOL classroom, you are guaranteed to have cross-cultural students, and as a TESOL teacher, this is something you need to have in. mind all the time. Every student will have paradigms and a specific behavior they were taught or got accustomed to as they were growing up. If we don't take the time to unwrap and discover the differences between our cultures, it could lead to misunderstandings and bad experiences in the classroom.

Cross-cultural collision...

Let's imagine a scenario, you are a teacher in a classroom with Asian and Hispanic students, you notice that some students are quiet and barely participate, others are being really loud and it will seem as if they were arguing with you, you will notice that from time to time students are talking among themselves. When they are working in groups and pairs you roam around the room and look at some uncomfortable and confused faces. At the end of the day, everyone seems drained and discouraged. 

How are you feeling about the classroom environment? How do you think their culture is affecting their development in the classroom? What misunderstandings are you and your students forming? How can you clear things up?

Culture has a great impact on the classroom dynamic, and many people don't realize that their "normal" behavior and paradigms can be really strange to others. With awareness and mutual agreement, you can avoid misunderstandings and encourage a sympathetic and tolerant environment.

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