Job Discussion Forums

[Capergirl]

Do any of you have classes with students from different countries? If so, have the cultural differences ever posed any difficulties?

I have a few classes with students from different countries - different continents, in fact. Their cultural backgrounds are vastly different and some are finding it challenging to work with their foreign classmates due to these differences. Sometimes, I question the validity of mixed nationalities in the ESL classroom. Perhaps it is better to have segregated groups.

[4nic8r]

I think it would make the class more interesting, but then again, I can understand what point you are coming across...

The main reason I think it would be better would be that they would be forced to speak in English because the 'comfort zone' of their native language would be gone... not to mention that it would be a better understanding of each others cultures, and it is better to experience language outside the safety of your own culture... imagine studying spanish with only other americans or canadians.. what a waste..

I can understand your point as to conflicts that may arise... especially when culture differences and culture superiority comes into play.. problems would no doubt arise, and with tensions the way they are in the world today sadly... well, it's a sad state of affairs...

final thoughts.. I'm all for it.. people should mix and learn from each other

[zorro]

[khmerhit]

I will teach any combination of nationalities----but I find that Trafalmadorians and Brazilians rarely mix.

[spiral78]

I've been teaching here in Canada just a short time, but my mixed classes are immigrants from a huge variety of backgrounds. I think that in this situation, it's useful overall for them to become accustomed to working with people who are different, because the mix is reflected in their new society at large. Sometimes it's a challenge, though.....
Specifically, just now I'm teaching an intensive pronunciation course to students from a total of 14 different mother tongues. This is HARD as they have very different pronunciation problems. I basically have to design specific exercises for each mother tongue group, and then I can re-blend the class all together or into small groups of students from mixed backgrounds for things like rhythm and intonation and syllable length. It's been a challenge, but hopefully productive. I'll find out soon - end of term testing starts in one more week!

[dreaming_saturn]

A few years ago I had a teaching placement at a secondary school outside of Amsterdam that included the two majour minority groups in the Netherlands : Turkish and Moroccan.

It turned my class into three distinct groups, and I ended up teaching three different levels with different first language interference difficulties.
In this case however all students shared a common language. I think in another context, especially with adult learners, if the class has different mother languages, they have to use English if they want to communicate with one another, ei: in the coffee break, which is better for them.

Many of the Turkish students has immigrated recently, so they were more busy learning Dutch properly, the English class was a waste of time for them. Poor kids

But, on the whole the students seemed to like me more than their regular teacher, because I wasn't "Dutch" myself, and they had had some problems with discrimination.
So, I guess I am in favour of them if all students are of the same level.
I seem to be confusing myself ...... dunno if they are better or worse.

[Eijse]

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[Shaman]

I taught a mixed grammar class in the morning followed by a business class (off-site), the latter being all French. An interesting little glitch occurred in my grammar class when I'd inadvertently use a French expression (eg. C'est la vie). The non-French students (predominantly Japanese) would repeat it, and then ask me how to spell it and what it meant.

Shaman

[Capergirl]

[ntropy]

Capergirl,

Until recently, I was teaching at a Cdn. uni like you. My classes were hugely homogenous, in that over 90% were mainland Chinese. This created as many or more difficulties as you are mentioning with your mixed classes. Students refuse to speak English, make no local friends, freeze out the odd Mexican/Bangladeshi in class, etc.

I've taught mixed classes and I think they work much better. Yes, some people are close-minded and bigotted and will never change. Better they find out right from the start that sort of attitude won't be very successful in their new country.

[Capergirl]

[nomadder]

Recently heard about a teacher with a class of Japanese and South Americans. >>>>Yikes!!! Hard to shut the S.ams up and to get the j group to talk-or should >I say harder than usual. Looking forward to teaching South Americans one of these months so I can see the difference for myself. SHould be a nice balance to my Japan experience.

[blackguy-n-Asia]

At my college in Toronto,Canada....large groups of mainland chinese would move in packs together and not associate (no matter how hard people tried) with other nationalities. The 'other' chinese from Hong Kong, and second or third generations would be frozen out of their loop as well.

Teachers there just gave up. Too hard a nut to crack. This was the same for groups of Japanese as well in my high school. Surely, there must be a way to break this ?

[lajzar]

In an ideal world, they should mix will all types of learners. Where I teach, it is hard enough just trying to get the boys and girls to sit in the same classroom.

Why create situations that make it harder for the students to learn?

[stillnosheep]