Tuesday, 30 October 2018

21:30 - No comments

TESOL 103: 10/30/18; Differences in Manners

What is rude in one country, might not be rude in another. There are many cultural differences in manners. In some countries, it is rude to slurp your soup, while others, like Japan, it is polite to slurp, because it shows that you are enjoying your food. Some cultures find staring rude, while others find staring at someone normal, and acceptable. Yawning in public is acceptable in some places, but not in others.

With so many cultural differences, how can a person avoid bad manners in a cross-culture classroom, or when visiting other areas? It seems impossible, but Professor Iver's from Brigham Young University - Idaho gives sound advice. He suggests that a person, when traveling to new places, view what the majority of people are doing. If they are not doing something, don't do it. I found this funny video, that over exaggerates the point I just made about following the majoring, when it comes to associating with different cultures. While the video is an exaggeration, it still makes a good point to help others learn the proper manners when associating with other cultures. If in doubt, do what others are doing.


It may be over whelming to navigate the numerous cultural differences. But if we are willing to learn what we can, and strive to be respectful to different cultures, we will get there.

Works Cited:

“06 Difference in Manners.” BYU-Idaho, video.byui.edu/media/06 Difference in Manners/0_xc0a34gb.

21:10 - No comments

TESOL 103: 10/30/18; Cross Culture Students in the Classroom

I live in a multi-cultural country. There are numerous cultures that are mixed together in numerous settings, such as work, school, and in the communities. A person's cultural background can effect how a student behaves in class, and what makes that student comfortable.

Professor Iver's from Brigham Young University discussed the differences a culture can make in the class. He recalled a survey that asked various foreign students what they felt about American students. The general impression was that American students are rude, they lack respect for the professor, they eat in class, and they argue about grades. Some cultures might frown upon such actions, but what they might not understand, is that the American culture is the cause of such "negative" behavior. The common behavior of American students is because there is amore casual relationship between professors and students. If an American student was studying in a foreign country, how would his or her professor react to such behavior. It might not go well. If the teacher has an understanding of the American culture, there is less likely a chance for misunderstanding.

As a teacher, is important to consider a person's culture, especially in a cross-culture classroom. It is important to give the students the benefit of the doubt, because chances are, their behavior is not intended as it was received.  Just like the American student that studies abroad, that student is behaving in a way that matches their cultural background. If a teacher is culturally sensitive, and willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, chances are that student is going to feel safe, and is more likely to learn.

I found this video that talks about being a culturally responsive teacher. It can help a teacher see the diversity in a classroom, and work with it, and to also enrich the classroom.


Works Cited

“06 Cross-Cultural Students in the Classroom.” BYU-Idaho, video.byui.edu/media/06 Cross-Cultural Students in the Classroom/0_r2lcaswt.

Saturday, 27 October 2018

11:13 - No comments

TESOL 103: 10/27/18; Attributional Tendencies

As a parent, have you ever blamed yourself for a child's poor choice, misfortune, illness, or even heartache? I know I have. When my children express any kind of sadness, I wonder "is there something I didn't do?" Why do parents do that? Why do we blame ourselves for every bad thing that happens to our children?

We all have attributional tendencies. Some are internal (what did "I" do?), while some are external (that was done to me). How we sometimes attribute our success and failures can be skewed based on our attributional tendencies. The typical American attributes success internally ("I did it"), while failures are attributed externally ("it's someone else's fault") (Ivers from BYU-I). While some countries like Japan attribute personal success externally, and personal failures internally. As a result of the personal failures being attributed internally, the suicide rate is very high in Japan (Ivers from BYU-I).

Look at the meme that I posted. In the movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the main antagonist chooses to follow the dark side of the force like his grandfather. If Han Solo and Princess Leia attributed Kylo Ren's behavior externally, they could blame "genetics." Instead of Ren using his agency to choose darkness.

It is importance to check our biases in our attributions, instead of over generalizing our success or failure to once general cause. Every circumstance is different (Ivers). Sometimes the bad things that happen to us are our fault, and sometimes it isn't. Sometimes the good things that happen to us are a result of our hard work, and sometimes it isn't. So parents, stop blaming yourself for your child's every mistake. Instead look at the circumstance, and decided based on the that specific situation.

Works Cited

“05 Attributional Tendencies in Cultures.” BYU-Idaho, video.byui.edu/media/05 Attributional Tendencies in Cultures/0_u45682wd.

“Attribution Processes.” Attribution Processes, wattersattribution.wordpress.com/.

SparkNotes, SparkNotes, www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/socialpsychology/section3/.

“The Side Of The Family by Brian Kesinger | Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.” Know Your Meme, 22 May 2018, knowyourmeme.com/photos/1063335-star-wars-episode-vii-the-force-awakens.

09:36 - 1 comment

TESOL 103: 10/27/18; Personal Space Differences

I am a very private person. I value my personal space, and I love spending time by myself. My sister-in-law is very different. She loves company. She loves to visit, and chat. There was a time when we were both pregnant at the same time. We were at a family gathering, and spending the day at the Calgary Stampede. She would always walk next to me, and whenever she would turn toward me, our pregnant bellies would bump. She would giggle, thinking it was fun that our bellies would meet. What she didn't know was that, every time our bellies touched I felt like punching her in the face.

At the time, I didn't understand why it bothered me so much, or even why she thought it was so fun. I love my sister-in-law, and I felt bad for the feelings that I had (which I fortunately didn't act on.) I remember telling her years later how I felt. She was surprised, because that time was a happy memory for her. We laugh about it now, because we have a deeper understanding of each other.

It is so easy to misinterpret personal space differences. Professor Iver's from Brigham Young University - Idaho shares an experience while at a McDonald's, where there were a group of African American's walking past him a little to close for comfort. He was grateful for his cultural understanding, because he was able to see that the "invasion" wasn't what he felt it was. Another person might have felt that the group of men were trying to be intimidating. Here is a funny video from "Seinfeld" that show the awkwardness we might feel when someone invades our personal space.


Personal property can also be interpreted. The aboriginal's in North America have a few different view of personal property than the the settlers. For us, property can be brought, while for the aboriginal's the land belongs to the creator, and is to be used by everyone. If a tool is needed, the aboriginal would take it, because it was needed. A settler would claim the tool as stolen; thus cultural misunderstandings occur.

A crucial way to combat cultural misunderstandings is empathy. We need to learn about other cultures, so that we can understand their perspective. Once there is understanding, there is less likely a chance of misunderstandings.

Works Cited

“05 Personal Space Differences.” BYU-Idaho, video.byui.edu/media/05 Personal Space Differences/0_yz4lk5f0.

Thursday, 25 October 2018

13:27 - No comments

TESOL 103: 10/25/18; Individualism versus Collectivism

I have a favorite television show called, "Mako Mermaids." It takes place near an island in Australia called Mako, where a group of mermaids called a "Pod" live. The pilot episode shows a  group of three young mermaids, who haven't earned their "moon rings"(a sign of being an adult). They decided to break a crucial pod rule, and allowed two land boys camp on the island on a full moon. Their actions let to one of the boys accidentally falling into their sacred moon pool, and becoming a merman. As a result, the three mermaids were cast out of the "Pod", and abandoned while the remaining pod leave Mako for a safer area (because the mermaids view mermen as dangerous). The series follows the struggle the mermaids have to try and "fix" their mistake so that their pod can return home. The mermaids struggle finding a balance between individualism and collectivism. What might make them personally happy might not be the best thing for the pod, and vise versa: what might be best for the pod, might not work for them individually. 

There are many cultures that are either follow collectivism, or individualism. Most western countries are atomism (individualism) based, while the eastern countries are more holism (collectivism) based (Part III - Continuum of 'Individualistic' and 'Collectivistic' Values). This is an over generalization. There are exceptions. In the classroom, it is important to understand whether a student comes from a individualism culture or a collectivism culture. In collectivism cultures, conformity in crucial, while in contrast, independence is a priority for those in individualism cultures. One student might value having high marks, while another might value creativity more. A students priority might depend on the culture they come from. I watched this video on Youtube that compared individualism and collectivism to dance. At the end of the video, there is a discussion on cheating. In a "we" culture students sharing answers might not feel like cheating. It is important to understand the various cultures in a classroom, so that the teacher can understand why a student does what he or she does, instead of just assuming that the student is misbehaving.

Here is the video that I mentioned.


Let goes back to my earlier discussion of "Mako Mermaids." How would the three exiled mermaids behaved if they thought more about the group than their individual wants? Chances are, there wouldn't have been a story, because the mermaids wouldn't have broken any rules for fun. How would the pod have reacted if there was more of a balance between individualism and collectivism? Most likely, the mermaids would have been taught about their mistake, instead of being exiled. By the end of the series, both the mermaids, and the pod found a healthy balance of collectivism and individualism. We can learn from many cultures, and even find the right balance of ideals.


“05 Individualism vs Collectivism.” BYU-Idaho, video.byui.edu/media/05 Individualism vs Collectivism/0_ojon0rjc.

“PART III - Continuum of ‘Individualistic’ and ‘Collectivistic’ Values.” Part III: Continuum of "Individualistic" and "Collectivistic" Values, www.ncset.org/publications/essentialtools/diversity/partIII.asp.

Ravitch, Diane. “The Myth of Chinese Super Schools.” The New York Review of Books, www.nybooks.com/articles/2014/11/20/myth-chinese-super-schools/.

Tuesday, 23 October 2018

20:30 - 2 comments

TESOL 103: 10/23/18; Differences in Emotional Expressivity

Imagine for a moment that you just received some bad news, while you were in a public place. How would you express your emotions? Do you start to cry, or do you hold it in? Do you talk to a stranger about the news, or do you stay silent? What if the news was good? Do you show your happiness for everyone to see, or does your body language not change at all? How you express your emotions in a public setting can be influenced by your cultural background.

Some cultures have a low tolerance of public emotional expressivity. Other cultures might have a high tolerance of public emotional expressivity. Emotional expressions can be misinterpreted if others have a differing way to express their emotions. According to Professor Ivor's from Brigham Young University - Idaho, those that have a low tolerance can view those with a high tolerance as savage or intense. Yet, those who have a high tolerance can view those with a low tolerance as snobbish or judgemental. How to do we get past these cultural misinterpretations? First, we must recognize the fact that no matter what culture we are apart of, we have the same emotions. We all can have feelings of happiness, fear, sadness, anger, and joy. Second, we must understand that others will express emotions differently. 

Take a moment to reflect on yourself. How do you express your emotions in public? Do you have a low tolerance or a high tolerance? How do you feel about others that have a different tolerance than you? Then put yourself in another's perspective. Does that change your point of view? In my opinion, empathy is the best tool to overcome cultural misinterpretations, especially when you can understand another's point of view. 

Here is a fun video from a sketch comedy group called Studio C. It portrays how a couple with an extremely low tolerance for public emotional expression interacts with each other. I hope you enjoy. 




“Differences in Emotional Expressivity.” BYU-Idaho, video.byui.edu/media/05 Differences in Emotional Expressivity/0_753le546.

Saturday, 20 October 2018

09:41 - 1 comment

TESOL 103: 10/20/18; Cultural Misinterpretation

Imagine for a moment that you are in a Kindergarten classroom, and there is a Chinese student that has done exceptionally well in the class. As the teacher, you want to reward the student by naming the child "student of the week." This entails placing the students picture in the hallway with samples of the students work, so that the other students in the school can see. Your intention is to praise and reward the student, so you are surprised when the student starts to cry, and you get an angry phone call from the students parents. What went wrong? This is a classic case of cultural miscommunication, and is exactly what Professor Iver's wife experienced as a kindergarten aid. Professor Iver's is an instructor at Brigham Young University, and he taught a lecture on cultural miscommunication.

So why was the little Chinese student and the parents upset? In many Asian countries, it is apart of the culture to blend in, and not be set apart from others. There is a phrase the Iver's repeats: "The nail that stands out gets hammered down." The student interpreted the praise incorrectly. Both the student and the parents felt that the class was placing the student in a position to be ridiculed for standing out. It would have been better for the teachers to privately praise the student, instead of bringing the attention to the public.

Understanding different cultures can help in avoiding cultural misunderstandings, but it is nearly impossible to avoid them all together. In Bulgaria, nodding your head actually mean no, while shaking your head means yes. Giving a thumbs up in Russia, is like giving someone the middle finger in the North America. Patting a child on the head from China is an invasion of sacred space. The list can go on. Eating everything on your plate in Japan is questioning your hosts generosity. It might help to learn about a new culture that you are faced. Be patient with yourself and others if an understanding occurs, because a misunderstanding now might help you avoid one in the future.

I got to watch a video that shows a series of cultural misunderstandings. It is a humorous anecdote for cultural misunderstandings. It may just help you work with other cultures with less misunderstandings


I also found a website that lists many different unspoken communication gestures, and how they can be interpreted in other cultures. Unspoken Communication Misunderstandings

Works Cited

“Cultural Miscommunication.” BYU-Idaho, video.byui.edu/media/04 Cultural Miscommunication /0_3aaa6xxh/28027982.

ipegmarc. “Series of HSBC Ads about Culture.” YouTube, YouTube, 16 June 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALWwK7Vz4gY.

Media, ShermansTravel. “18 Gestures That Can Cause Offense Around the World.” Shermans Travel, www.shermanstravel.com/advice/18-gestures-that-can-cause-offense-around-the-world.

Thursday, 18 October 2018

19:11 - 1 comment

TESOL 103: 10/18/18; Time

My husband is always late, and I like to be early. Before I met my husband, I always strived to be 15 minutes early for everything I did. After we started dating, we were always late for everything. It drove me crazy, and it also drove my family crazy. It took me years to understand why my husband had what I perceive to be little concept for time. My husband grew up in a small community, where he spent most of his time outside, without a watch. His parents loved that my husband would spend his time outside. He would come and go as he pleased. I grew up in a large city. I had time commitments, a curfew, a certain guidelines to keep me safe in the city. My father was a city police officer, and so my rules were more strict. As I contemplate our different upbringings, I see how we have different concepts of time. I need to have time commitments, while my husband feels restrained by them.

Different cultures can have different concepts of time too. While watching the video "Cultural Differences in Concerning TIME" Professor Ivers discusses how some cultures are monochronic (time in linear), while others are polychronic (less formal in time). North American countries tend to be monochronic, while he claims the rest of the world tends to be polychronic. Monochronics are rules by schedules, while polychronics are ruled by relationships. Different feelings of time can lead to frustration. Like the example he states in the video about a salon owner taking appointments. A monochronic customer makes an appointment, and is there on time. The polychronic salon owners pushes back the appointment to meet the needs of a family member, then a friend, and doesn't quite understand why the original customer is getting frustrated. If both the salon owner, and the customer were able to understand each other's concept of time, do you think a confrontation could be avoided?

Once again it comes down to finding common ground when it comes to cultural differences. It may be hard for a monochronic person to not be frustrated by the laid back attitude about time, and a polychornic person might not understand why the monochronic person is insistent on keeping appointments. If people would strive to understand another person's perspective, I think there would be more patience and understanding.

It is obvious that I am monochronic, while my husband is polychronic. It has taken us years to understand each others point of view. I work to be more laid back, and he tries harder to keep to schedule. If we can find compromise, others can too.



“04 Cultural Differences in Concerning TIME.” BYU-Idaho, video.byui.edu/media/04 Cultural differences in Concerning TIME/0_1cjop6lc.


Tuesday, 16 October 2018

21:27 - No comments

TESOL 103: 10/15/18; Cultural Paradigms

Cultural Paradigms

One of the great things about studying other cultures is the broadening of perspectives. I had numerous opportunities to interact with many people from different cultures. Through work, I got to work with indigenous people, and those apart of the Hutterite colonies. It is amazing to see how different cultures can view things differently. A persons culture can determine our ideals and beliefs. Culture can help us decide what is deemed appropriate behavior, or how to interact with others. Culture can even determine what is beautiful. This week I viewed three videos that portray or discussed various cultural differences, and even how situation are viewed.

The first video was a college professor giving a classroom lecture on cultural paradigms. The instructor talked about an ancient Hawaiian king that was fed up with the perverted nature of the many Peeping Tom men in his kingdom. The king was so fed up that he was going institute the death penalty for any of the men caught peeping on the women. According to the king of that time, and that culture, these men were perverted because they would watch women eat. That ancient culture believed is to be inappropriate for men and women to eat together. Imagine for a moment how the king would react if he walked into a modern day food court, or saw a family eating together. He would be horrified. This story is a perfect example on how cultural difference can cause misunderstandings, even judgements.

Another video that I watched was a clip from a National Geographic documentary titled "Cultural Differences." The video shows the adjustment that a group of young men from Sudan had to undertake when they moved to the United States. The boys were astonished on how Americans are more solitary. Property is private, and it isn't common for people to be alone. The boys grew up in a culture where there was more interaction, even from strangers. The boys would stay in groups and do everything together. It bothered many of the community members, because they feared the boys were behaving like a gang. The boys were just doing what felt natural to them according to their culture. I can't help but ponder, how would I react as the community member, or how would I react if I was one of the boys.

The next video that I watched really opened my eyes on the way culture can shape our opinions. In a Ted Talk, there was a woman from Africa discussing her experiences as a thin African girl, where thinness was considered sickly and ugly. The woman shares her experiences being bullied at school, and her parents concern that she won't get married. She talks about the many diets that her doctors put her on to help her gain weight. She was considered ugly in Africa, but when she came to America, she was suddenly beautiful. She wondered if she should believe those in Africa, or those in America: was she ugly or beautiful. She ended up deciding that it didn't matter how others saw her. It mattered how she saw herself.

There are so many cultures in the world. I have worked with indigenous people where living with extended family is common. I have worked with Hutterite people where a person's role in the society is determined by gender. Through my personal experiences, and through the many things I have read and watched about culture, I have determined that no matter the culture of a person, there must always be kindness. As cultures collide, there is a greater chance of avoiding misunderstandings if there is patience and kindness. If we each try to understand each other's culture and perspective, I see fewer misunderstandings are more common understanding. As a future teacher it is my responsibility to understand different cultures, and have a classroom that is safe for all cultures, and open to learning from each other.

I have attached the Ted talk video and the National Geographic video for you to view. I hope you take the opportunity to view these videos and gain a better understanding of people and their cultures. 




F. (2009, October 23). Cultural Differences National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0kzF4A-WQ

Bright, D. (n.d.). Cultural clashes in defining beauty. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/delali_bright_cultural_clashes_in_defining_beauty

Cultural Paradigms. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://video.byui.edu/media/Cultural Paradigms/0_9w0czg1f

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