Mahnaz,
Wonderful that you are willing to share your college experience and differences to reveal the culture differences. Your openness helps your students better adjust to their learning environment. They will be able to transfer your experiences to their "cultural knowledge bank".
Arlene Muller
Since I come from another culture, I do share my experiences from college days. Those students who are from other countries appreciate the differences and feel comfortable opening up and share their experiences with the class. At the same time, these discussions help other students become familiar with other cultures, hence facilitate learning.
Virginia,
Excellent effort on your part to take the time to find out the career paths concerning your students. When students have an opportunity to exchange ideas and support each other, their commitment is stronger since they have now made a verbal commitment to their peers.
Arlene Muller
I mix certain cultures, and also become familiar with career pathways students have pursued prior to enrolling in our program. The insight from peers allows all students to be successful when completing an assignment or project.
Jennie,
I thought your observation was wonderful and so current to our USA culture. You can see the blending of the cultures and they are confusing if they are not defined. I think you bring up a good point, when different cultures are part of a group that there needs to some definitions for procedures. Your idea of mixing the cultures helps the students to understand each other. May I also recommend that you allow the students to create the guidelines for the group attendance, participation and member responsibilities. This way they can define these areas based on their culture. The groups could expand their current group activity.
Arlene Muller
I also come from a different culture. I have really found a way to have to stick to American culture but unfortunately not in all ways. I am still fighting my battles of my own culture, honestly trying to stop them and become a real American. As an example, it is a Venezuelan culture that is okay to be late 5- 10 minutes to your meetings. I do not understand why and it bothers me we are in that way. But I also understand it is an absolutely disrespectful behavior in the USA to do so. Indeed, as a Latin person you really have to fight back your own culture to be late and find a way to be on time to your meetings so that you show respectful behavior in front of Americans. We are the ones who immigrate, and we must learn American ways. You cannot be an instructor or students with that problem; you will not succeed in short words.
I am exposing my feeling about this topic so that Americans also can see the other side of the coin and give Latin students a window for them to understand it is not nice or polite to show disrespectful behavior in that way. Also, Americans must know this is fine for that culture to doing so in their countries and they most likely are having really problems to find the way to fight against their cultures.
I have also been a student in the US. Because I have been there, I think that the best way to make all my students comfortable is let them to arrange their groups themselves, let them to sit next to the person that would make them to be themselves without the imminent threat you are going to be criticized that you are too load or to communicative, or you ask too many questions. So, when I am going to do group activities, I mix several cultures so that they get to know a little bit from each other. In that way, they might understand other's behaviors. Still, If I feel like it depresses them, or make them to feel uncomfortable, I let them one more time be arranged and make the groups themselves.
Bruno,
Bruno, your experience is very valuable when you are teaching others in your classroom. Every student needs to feel comfortable and safe for them to learn. They need to know it is OK to make a mistake. It seems your are creating those conditions in your classroom. I congratulate you on your efforts. Always, Arlene
Arlene Muller
Well, I came from a different country and when I teach my class ELL students fill comfortable around class.
Diego,
Excellent! You have expressed the true foundation for the learning situation. Children need to feel safe before they can comprehend and more importantly retain what they are being taught.
I always try to create a safe and comfortable environment which allows students to have the opportunity to learn new vocabulary and come back to review difficult topics.
