Cultural Difference - Teacher/Student
In my experience, students performance and classroom participation has some relation to their cultural background. Understanding some of these cultural differences among the students is vital for effective evaluation. For example, some students may know the content very well but scores low in a debate performance.
Cultural differences do have an influence. Some are for the better and some for worse. It does have a little to do with where you born, how you were raised etc., but I don't like anybody to use that as an excuse. We all have the same opportunity as the next and yes some will have it easier but you can't change that you can only change you so accept that and make the best of it.
I believe that it is important to have a basic understanding of your students' cultural backgrounds mainly for the sake of adapting your messages into language that is understandable to them. I have a great deal of students who come from low income families; it is the socioeconimic status that tends to make the difference in how I need to deliver the message. This does not mean I talk down to them by any means. What it means is that I have to pay attention to the language they use and the references they make, so that I use appropriate examples they can relate to. If I keep using examples involving material they have never dealt with, then they will not be able to understand what I'm talking about. I need to have a good idea of where they come from and what are common activities in their lives so I can relate to them appropriately.
The problem may be a language understanding of the material If the student is from somewhere else. I don't think it has anything to do with culture or social background.
I personally Do not think it is the cultural difference. I would tend to believe it has more to do with the family and social background. If a student's parents, uncles, aunts and other family members are high achievers, they tend to be the same as well.... If the people in their immediate surrounding are low achievers, they will also be the same as they do not see a role model to emulate.
I think it is very important for us, instructors, to mentor them and encourage them so they can change that trend
