Job Discussion Forums

[JustLuke]

I'll soon be teaching at a University in Shandong Province. The school apparently wants me to teach about "Western Culture."

Last year I taught at a private school in Liaoning Province and my lessons were (roughly) comprised of 70% oral English, 20% English Culture, and 10% Grammar. I was always least comfortable teaching my students about culture, this is because:

1) Their English language skills were often too poor for them to comprehend and discuss the various topics that I chose.

2) They were too nervous to actively participate in the conversations that I planned.

3) We (obviously) couldn�t discuss "sensitive" issues, and I was unsure how far I could go using constructive criticism of and comparisons between Chinese and English cultures to get my point across. I didn�t want to be perceived as �attacking� China, nor did I want to get in trouble or make my students feel uncomfortable. Also, there's only so much you can say about safe topics like music, shopping, dating, ambitions etc.

So can anybody here offer any advice about teaching "Western Culture?" Do you have any nifty online links to useful resources? Can you advise me on ways to encourage my students to actively participate in Cultural discussions? Basically, in a nutshell, without beating about the bush, to cut a long story short and without further ado: Help!!!

[Redfivestandingby]

I sympathize with you. I had to do that once and it was tough!!!

I found it was useful to talk first about collectivist vs. individualist cultures. Or heterogeneous vs. homogenous if you prefer. Most can relate and understand how collectivist cultures(China) exert such strong influence to conform, for example.

And it sets up a starting point to talk about all those things that you said especially music and its many genres.

I also talked about communication styles: direct vs. indirect.

Hope it helps.

[Redfivestandingby]

I found this on the Peace Corps website:

http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/culturematters/Ch2/thirteencategories.html

I suppose you can modify depending on your country of origin.

[Ace]

Be honest, just say everything in the west is better.

[kev7161]

Comparisons are always good (someone a while back was wanting to compare Post Offices of the east and west). Anything from driving habits to public transportations to foods to fashions to television programs. There's no reason to say "A" is better than "B", both cultures have their strengths and weaknesses. There are many pi$$-poor drivers in America, questionable fashion statements, and WTF? television programs. Just make a "good" vs "bad" list for each country based on your own opinions (and if you have other FTs around, get a little feedback from them).

You could also ask students these kinds of questions: "Are American (assuming you are from the USA) movies better or worse than Chinese? Why? Which do you prefer? Why? What is your favorite kind of movie? Why?" . . . and so on. (using movies as an example, of course)

I think I could probably easily fill a term this way . . . . getting the students to talk about these things is another story altogether.

[Yu]

I don't know if this would work in China, but it has been great in my classes here.

This is for a reading class, but I think the idea may apply in Speaking/Listening.

In reading, students have to do a reading and answer comprehension questions. Instead of me just giving them the answers, I appoint a student to lead the discussion.

Instead of me reading a questions and waiting for students to reply... which has taken up to an hour. I make them do it, and it takes only 15 to 20 minuites.

Why? I think when the student is on the spot, other students feel the need to let them off the hook, so they answer quetions more quickly. Also, all of the students are better at doing to homework, because they know their classmate may call on them to answer or that I am not just going to give them the answers.

With Speaking and listenting, I suppose you could also appoint student discussion leaders.

[cheekygal]

In my classrooms there are Monitors. It could be a more or less active boy/girl. You could ask your TA to help you choose one. My students are 14-17 at the moment. Their English level is not that great. But what makes it harder - they are very shy. So, when I run out of active students willing to answer/make up the questions, I ask the Monitor to appoint someone. In your case everytime it could be a different student or may be like in my case - always the same person In one class it's a girl, in another - a boy. So when I address them, I say : "Miss Monitor" or "Mister Monitor". The whole class giggles, it livens the classroom and also in this case you can make sure non of the students is forgotten and everyone has a chance to participate in your lesson.

Try also devided students into groups. And each group could have such a Monitor. I used this method while preparing students for Oral examination when I had to make sure they all get a chance to read, answer questions and make and tell a story based on picture. They could have mini-debates between the groups.

I tried the peacecorp page recommendations. The vocabulary there is a little bit too hard for my students, so I had to be creative and make a lot of changes. But it does work. Especially the topic on Attitude towards age

[struelle]

[Roger]

That's one of those assignments that is totally over the top, and over the heads of your learners.
What is "culture" anyway?
I suspect this is but a token course. Not serious study work, just enticing them to come and take one more English subject.

Culture?
Can you discuss with them telephone etiquette? Well, behavioral issues might be a good idea, really; just look around and get your surprises on how they treat each other. Teach them about Florence Nightingale or Henry Dunant... or Jesus or Hippocrates - I guess that's what I would do with them - cover the biographies of great people from the West, and what they did, and how this affect all of us lastingly. Explain thaqt without the culture surrounding these people they wouldn't have become so great!

[ChinaLady]

I taught Western Culture from English Speaking countries last semester. the book was old and horrid, and two volumes. over 10 years out of date. the whole chapter on Norther Ireland was about "the troubles." so, I used the book as a baseline. so that the students knew which country was going to be covered when. started with Britain ended with the USA. also covered Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. this was a 36 chapter book in 30 class sessions. BUT I supplemented from the web. did a short intro to the country. taught them the national anthem, local slang (like jellyknees in New Zealand) read poetry, and gave them historical stuff. while we covered each country the class started with the class standing (these are university students) singing the national anthem of the country we were studying. the Maroi (sorry if I spelled this wrong) version of the NZ anthem was great fun.
this was in front of 137 (class divided in two sections) students, 3 times a week.
now, I had a great time and so did about half of the students. I learned a lot (been a while since I took a civilization class at uni) and tried to put some fun into the class.
the final exam was 100 questions. mulitple guess, true-false and one word fill-in. they had 2 hours. the eams showed who had listened and who did not.
amy class is what you put into it, and if you enjoy what you are teaching.

[Ace]

I come from New Zealand...what's jellyknees?

[gregmgnz]

another confused new zealander!

[gregmgnz]

got the wrong " Island" for where the slangs used
its aussie
Jellyknees - a weak person; a coward; a procrastinator

[sallyann]

I am Australian and I have never, ever heard of "Jellyknees".

[cheekygal]

wonderful discoveries or just wonders of chinglish books? *grin*