CP #2 - Paige Dabney

Date/Time: 21 January 2016, 1-1:50pm (Cultural Workshop)
Location: CIES Lounge
1) What did you learn and share with your conversation partner(s)?
I spoke with three students who were from East Asia, the Middle East, and West Africa. We discussed the explicit and implicit aspects of culture holistically and then individually of our cultures. I shared with my group mates the differences in religious/spiritual practices and beliefs, how American timeliness is contingent upon the session (stressing the importance placed on arriving at certain classes on time if the teacher requests it), and that there is less emphasis on seniority in most scenarios in my culture.
2) How did the CP session inform your awareness of other cultures?
I learned much of seniority in Chinese culture and ways to avoid disrespecting another (e.g. being at a position higher than the person of authority and pointing with your toes). I was very surprised to know that it is considered disrespectful to use your mother's first name in the culture of my new friend from Burkina Faso. When it comes to the more implicit aspects of culture, I usually find many differences between the West and the Middle East. However, it was interesting to find many similarities with my partner from the Middle East in what is considered respectful and disrespectful.
3) How did the CP session inform your awareness of your culture?
I have considered things such as timeliness, personal space, food, clothing, and religion when discussing culture. However, student and teacher expectations have not come up much. I began to think more extensively about the transition of international students to an American classroom. It is difficult for some students to get the nerve to speak to the teacher in class, while students such as many from Burkina Faso may easily fit the dynamic of asking questions and simultaneously, avoiding chatting with peers during the lesson. Additionally, I found it intriguing to draw relations between the implicit and explicit aspects of culture. I realized that there are few restrictions average American culture places on food. There are just a few stigmas of what animals not to eat, such as insects and dogs.
4) How could you apply what you learned to your teaching practice?
It's one thing to discuss various aspects of culture, but it's another to analyze it in order to understand the dynamic effects these aspects have on one another. I think this made for a much greater depth of discussion. Also, acting out certain stigmas is helpful to understanding them. My Chinese partner pointed out that she would be considered rude in China for having her head at a position higher than the teacher. We also had a student bring dates and Middle Eastern coffee in. He made sure to politely correct me to eat the date with my right hand. Learning can always use a healthy dose of tactile and kinesthetic methods, two that are rather hard to create.