Job Discussion Forums

[leeroy]

I suppose the idea of "communication" implies the transference of knowledge or information. By going into a shop and asking for a packet of cigarettes, the "communication" is obvious. I communicated my want for cigarettes, the shop-keeper would communicate the price he required and both of us might then transfer some concept of gratefulness.

But this is one side of it. Inadvertently, I may also communicate my social background, whether or not I was in a hurry, my attitude to the shop-keeper - and even more abstract concepts like my self-esteem or character. Mild changes in intonation, body language, eye contact - all of these are subtle communicative devices over which we have less conscious control. But they are as necessary as the actual "words" that are transferred, this "secret communication" provides the listener with a background context with which the content of the spoken words can be compared and processed.


In class today, I was struck (like a sudden revelation, in fact) by how incredibly boring Asian students sound. (I know, I know, it's a generalisation!) I would rather listen to a Colombian explain how he changed a toilet roll than to a Chinese girl describing her round-the-world trip and alien abduction. I got to thinking why...

I have rarely genuinely enjoyed listening to an Asian tell a story. I've been gripped by Latin American, European and Middle Eastern students - their characters have interested me. But when I think back to my Asian students, I get nothing.

Asian students speak like robots. There is no emotion, no feeling behind their words. They simply recite/construct appropiate responses or questions - when speaking English, put simply, they have no character.

Perhaps, Asians (KoreaJapanChina, here) simply don't rely on this communication undercurrent that I described. Maybe when they speak, the content of words is enough. They don't use these subtle communication devices in their own country, so why would they here?

But this doesn't fit with my understanding of Asian culture. There are complex patterns of respect and deference - many of which must be communicated indirectly.

I have little idea of how the concepts of body language and eye contact differ from western to eastern cultures - but I'd hazard a guess and say that they are indeed, different. Perhaps the means that Asians use to communicate such information simply go unnoticed by myself and other European class-mates. There is this extra, hidden meaning in their discourse - we just don't realise it.

When I see Asian students speaking with each other (outside the school, for example) in their own language then the exchanges look animated. They wave their arms around, chat, giggle, hold each-others' arms - they are expressive in more ways than just words.

This is not brought to the class. Immediately in the company of westerners they 'freeze up' - becoming these predicatble behaviourist machines. Perhaps, then, they know about these 'extra' communication methods, but choose not to use them (consciously or otherwise) in the class.

There is, as I understand it, a strong culture of cliqueness (a word?) in eastern cultures. You're "in the group", or "a complete stranger" - and membership to social/familial groups is not easy to get. When speaking with 'outsiders' (including, presumably, classmates) - Asians try to make communication as neutral, unemotive and objective as possible. They reserve things like "implying your attitude/mood" to close friends and family.

Westerners, however, happily communicate a broader spectrum of information than simply the content of their words - whenever they open their mouths...

Well, I'm not sure about any of the above - it's a stream of consciousness, and for every generalisation I have made I can already think of a number of exceptions.

Nonetheless, any of the above hypothesese ring any bells?

[denise]

I, too, have noticed what you mentioned. When I go to my ikebana class, the women are jovial, animated, expressive, use gestures, facial expressions, etc. They are all of similar age, and likely of similar social standing (I'm just hazarding a guess here...).

Outside of class, my students act in much the same way. Inside class, however, they are, as you said, a bit robotic. There are cultural differences in appropriate degrees of eye contact, body language, etc. (coincidentally, I've got a high-level speaking class in which we're working on these things right now--public-speaking skills in an American context).

I think it might also be due to the fact that in a foreign language speakers don't have the same sense of self/identity as in their own language. A lot of perfectly outgoing, expressive people simply clam up in foreign languages--whether because of cultural differences or linguistic deficits. If you don't know how to express your beliefs or opinions (i.e., if you don't have the vocabulary/knowledge of grammatical structures to do so), part of your personality gets buried.

I'm still trying to figure out why my students speak so monotonously. It can't be an influence from their L1, which, from what I've heard, can actually be quite rich and varied in terms of intonation--what is it, then?

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[Glenski]

Speaking from Japan, I can say that many people speak "monotonously" (that is, in monotone sounds) in the classroom but also in other formal functions (especially meetings, especially when they are simply trying to convey information). The Japanese language is highly monotone in nature, and when you think about it, with such formal situations as classrooms and meetings, what else would you expect?

Yes, teachers wish students would be animated, but unless they are highly fluent and comfortable with the surroundings, a classroom will always be a classroom, and that means promoting a stiff attitude among students who were brought up to respect the quiet of the classroom and the domineering role of the teacher. The teacher's personality and format of the class, as well as design of the classroom, will make the difference. It's not your students.

So, if you can introduce pictures to the room, do it. Play music in the background. Bring realia to discuss. Whatever breaks the ice. Just don't expect a lot of animated people until they become somewhat fluent or feel comfortable or have something to say beyond "I went shopping last weekend".

[nomadder]

Japanese were always telling me their language was flat but I could often pick up a sing songy rhythm. And how about all those sounds Eeeeeehhhhhhh! Those in Japan know what I mean.

[struelle]

[leeroy]

A very interesting analysis - thanks Steve!

[scot47]

Koreachinajapan is one place ? One culture ? I have always been puzzled by this North American habit of considering "Asia" to be coterminous with China,Taiwan, Korea and Japan. There are ENORMOUS cultural diferences in these countries and between them.

[leeroy]

Scot47

Indeed, which makes it all the more fascinating that they collectively share so many characteristics in the class!

[Roger]

I don't think we Westerners are much more spontaneous in a classroom setting. I for one never liked to speak up in class, yet this is what I often require my Chinese students to do. They don it, sometimes marvelously well.
But, the difference as I see it seems to be that Chinese and many other Asians are not used to have an individual opinion. Most of their foreign-language is acquired through a kind of teamwork, which is a hindrance to their intellectual development.
Analysing language and situations is not their forte either.
And extra-linguistic means of communication? I often notice how they avert their faces when talking to me. Sometimes it annoys me as I have to struggle to understand their mutterings. They avoid eye contact. It is so incongruous when you consider their habit of staring right at you, or even in your face - under different circumstances.

[Seth]

[scot47]

Why should learning a language be "exciting" ? Is learning Calculus or Algebra or Inorganic Chemistry "exciting" ?

It seems to me that we have lost the road somewhere. Not everything is or can be "fun".

[J-Pop]

[dmb]

Can you guys clarify "Asia" Does that include the Gulf. Geographically it is in Asia. But, I"ll stick my neck out here, the Gulf is nothing like koreachinajapan

[J-Pop]

[Seth]