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Classroom taboos

 
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gaijinalways



Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
PostPosted: Sat May 10, 2008 2:15 am    Post subject: Classroom taboos Reply with quote
This topic has been covered somewhat, but I had a different view 'thrust' on me recently from a website I visited (EnglishClub.com). In their teacher taboo section, they gave some general advice for topics not to discuss as well as gestures to possibly be avoided or minimized. One was touching students, which I was surprised to see for some countries though I know it would depend on the culture. Certainly in Japan, it would depend on the age of the student (something they mention on the site in a general way) and possibly that student's dislike or like of personal contact. I have had some students initiating contact, but generally in a harmless way. Any opinions on this?

Also, there was listed for Asian countries a repeated sentence "Be careful not to mix up the history or culture of Asian countries or assume that things are the same in all of them."

Wouldn't this apply to all countries? Why would they be concerned especially in Asia about this matter?
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johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
PostPosted: Sat May 10, 2008 2:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hmm, maybe "personal space" is more inviolate in Asia because most of it is so crowded - China, Indonesia, India, Japan, etc.


http://maps.howstuffworks.com/asia-population-density-map.htm

Regards,
John
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
PostPosted: Sat May 10, 2008 4:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Touching students heads can be taboo is some places.
Sitting on desks.
Pointing at students.
Moving back when they move closer to you.
Showing the bottom of your shoes.
Not saying good morning or hello.
Saying shut up, but I think that's everywhere.
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mesomorph



Joined: 13 Nov 2007
Posts: 63
PostPosted: Sat May 10, 2008 12:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Teaching naked is generally frowned upon.
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gaijinalways



Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
PostPosted: Sat May 10, 2008 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Touching students heads can be taboo is some places.


Yes, that would be Thailand as one of them.

Quote:
Sitting on desks.


Something I am guilty of as I get older and want to quickly rest my legs at various spots in the classroom.

Quote:
Pointing at students.


I do this sometimes, but generally try to use names when possible.

Quote:
Moving back when they move closer to you.
Showing the bottom of your shoes.


Not issues, don't do them.

Quote:
Not saying good morning or hello.


Actually, the students are more guilty of this than me (and other instructors sometimes Rolling Eyes ).

Quote:
Saying shut up, but I think that's everywhere.


Depends on the students that you have. Some have a tendency to carry on when I'm trying to teach (usually part of instructions or a mini-lecture). I will usually ask them to leave or to teach for me (I don't mind, I still get paid).

But I noticed we are getting no responses to the second part about

Also, there was listed for Asian countries a repeated sentence "Be careful not to mix up the history or culture of Asian countries or assume that things are the same in all of them."

Wouldn't this apply to all countries? Why would they be concerned especially in Asia about this matter?

I mention this as I know some people are touchy about it. I was once playing an Internet game (probably backgammon) and my opponent was from Denmark and we were talking about children's stories and I misidentified the origin of one story. The conversation went down hill after that Rolling Eyes (or was it the match?).
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Justin Trullinger



Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
PostPosted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
May depend on the individual writing the article- I've spent the last several years in latin countries, and here, there's a real tendency to think of Asia as one place, and one culture. I've seen this tendency, though less exaggerated, in English speaking countries.

In both Spain and Ecuador, the general word meaning "Asian" is "Chino."

I imagine that people mixing asian countries up is just more common...


Slds,
Justin
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gaijinalways



Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
I've spent the last several years in Latin countries, and here, there's a real tendency to think of Asia as one place, and one culture. I've seen this tendency, though less exaggerated, in English speaking countries.

In both Spain and Ecuador, the general word meaning "Asian" is "Chino."

I imagine that people mixing Asian countries up is just more common...


I understand, though I'm not sure the stereotype is consistent. What does 'Westerner' mean to you?

I sometimes talk with my colleagues from various jobs, a real mixture; New Zealanders, Aussies, Americans, Canadians, Scots, Brits, Irish, S. Africans, etc.. There is no one type of Westerner, there are a few shared qualities, just as there are in some parts of Asia, but of course I am only looking at English speaking Westerners. If I look at all Westerners there are even less similarities.

Yet in Japan, we often get Japanese students assuming that all foreigners are the same, until they are reminded that foreigners includes all non-Japanese! Then we move onto the idea of identifying Westerners, and even for my wife who is neither young nor little traveled (so very like many of my university students who could be forgiven a little due to lack of exposure to countries other than Japan), she sometimes thinks it odd to see Asian-Americans or Asian-Europeans.

I still think their website statement is rather useless as it's kind of like common sense.

"Be careful not to mix up the history or culture of Asian countries or assume that things are the same in all of them."

I would hope that no one would assume that for any two countries. As to studying history, everyone has their own version Rolling Eyes .
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mesomorph



Joined: 13 Nov 2007
Posts: 63
PostPosted: Mon May 12, 2008 12:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
...
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