Job Discussion Forums

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

"The entire race is usually judged by the actions of one man or woman."
Hattie McDaniel

Unfair, prejudicial, foolish, lazy of mind and more often than not true?........of course. We are judged by what we do.....but more often by what others have done. I do suppose that what we do, also influences the manner in which our successors and colleagues/fellow life travellers are judged. Life is such a closed circle is it not?

"It takes tremendous discipline to control the influence, the power you have over other people's lives."
Clint Eastwood

I suppose the thread here is that we are not without influence or effect in our social environment and conversely what we presently experience either as an individual or as a group is a result of many others' perceptions which have developed over time and experience with our particular national identity.

The lesson ...........?

'

Note: Although the term 'race' originally may have been used literally in reference to colour it is used in this context as referring to any population.

TwinCentre · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 273 Location: Mokotow

The lesson....?

Concentrate on teaching English or go back home and do an Anthropology or indeed Philosophy Masters.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject:

TwinCentre · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 273 Location: Mokotow

What I am really saying is that I have met real 'Cultural Ambassadors' whilst working for the British Council, and they earn a fair bit more than EFL teachers. They go under various job titles, but Cultural Ambassadorship is their mission.

Also, isn't Madonna one? Think Sting is...not sure.

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

What if we take a different tack on this and set aside the geo-political aspects for re-introduction a little down the road.

There seems to be a great deal of support for the concept that language is culture based; that one can not exist without the other since they each give meaning and expression to the other.

If we accept the concept that language and culture are intertwined even in the most accidental or perhaps unintentioned way, can we then propose that teaching a language is an exercise in cultural 'ambassadorship' by definition?

If we do not accept the concept that language and culture are intertwined how do we deconstruct this pillar of language learning/teaching? And with what is this pillar replaced?

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

jdl posted

rusmeister · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

Here is an interesting paper/article on the connection between language and culture/context in a historical perspective as it relates specifically to language teaching.
http://www.readingmatrix.com/articles/genc_bada/article.pdf

A summary

1. culture/context and language are intertwined and such a recognition is prima facie.

2. teaching language in a culture/context seems to be more effective with the richness of the cultural context determined in large part by our motivation for teaching language; that is, the richness of the context depends upon the purpose/agenda of our instuction and desired language/culture outcomes.

Education is the means by which we perpetuate our culture...teaching language in a context/culture rich environment may be the means by which we perpetuate our culture in others.

We certainly may have a serious job, we 'esl ers'..... the significance more often than not unknown to us. Can the statement "I just teach the language" ever be true?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:33 pm Post subject:

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

a new CELTA teacher had described himself as 'Cultural Ambassador' on his CV

That's pretty amazing. I'd be very concerned about certifying someone who felt this was appropriate, and would definitely not be interested in hiring a candidate who would put such a thing on his CV.

To me, it would indicate a far-too-high degree of 'us versus them' attitude, and I'd suspect the candidate of being judgemental of other cultures (in a negative way - we all make judgements, of course).

Maybe I'm being too harsh, but to me it rings of the stance some percentage of rather insulated North Americans and Brits take, assuming a degree of 'superiority' of culture. However, this is a very subjective judgement on my part, based just on the phrase quoted by Sashadroogie above...perhaps not really what the candidate intended.

norwalkesl · Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 366 Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China

TwinCentre · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 273 Location: Mokotow

Here, here Spiral, I agree totally.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Sasha,
So somebody declares himself on a CV to be a cultural ambassador. In what context? JET Programme ALTs are called that. Let's be fair and hear all the details.

As for this:

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject:

Hi again,

I think I understand you better, hearing your story, Sashadroogie.

The way you set it up here has probably lead to some misunderstandings, though.

YOu listed the term "cultural ambassador" without context, explanation, or definition, and people responded to it as they understood the term, which wasn't, in many cases, too closely related to the situation you were interested in.

Nobody here is a cultural ambassador professionally, and I'm pretty sure that we don't put it on our resumes.

Frankly, it's not a term I've run into a lot.

But when asked, I speculate about what you might mean by it- and come to the conclusion that a lot of what I do believe could be described in this way. (Though I often refer to it as simply trying not to embarass the family when overseas. Meaning wanting to reflect well on my own culture.)

And then you associate that with arrogance.

It's interesting that most here who identify themselves with your "cultural ambassador" label described the role in terms of how they want their own culture to be seen. None expressed ideas about how others cultures should learn from, or learn to be like, their culture.

So it looks to me like you're reading this wrong. Call it pompous if you will, but there is no "white man's burden" or "the world looks to us" attitude in what I've heard posters here say about their "cultural ambassadorship." Merely a desire to help their countries of origin be seen in a positive light.

I can hardly call it arrogance to realize that my country of origin is often seen in a bad light, and to want to be seen, for my own actions, in a better one.

It's also interesting that those of us who live less cosmopolitan circumstances feel this most strongly. Relative to the population, Ecuadorians see so few foreigners that we all get judged according to those few. If an Ecuadorian meets the vacation partying crowd, he or she can be forgiven for thinking that foreigners probably drink too much. Meets enough monolinguals, and he'll think foreigners only speak one language. Normal enough.

Best,
Justin

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

you are all considered a representative/ambassador of your country when you meet a person from another country. You can't help it.

Glenski - really it's not true everywhere. Honestly.

Many Europeans know so many Americans/Brits/Canadians/Austrialians that they really do see us firstly as individuals. Not that there aren't stereotypes, of course there are - and if one does something extreme, it's likely to be remembered.

But I (and many others) teach in situations where we 1. look no different from the locals and 2. where the locals have travelled extensively and often done exchange schooling in 'our' home countries and 3. where we simply have zero rarity value.

My students almost never know or care to ask exactly what country I'm from. It's simply immaterial here in almost every case.

Doesn't mean that I wouldn't worry about my personal reputation - of course I would. But my rep is not based on my nationality.