knowledge-focused students with learner-focused teachers
This is the third of four chapters that each include nineteen true stories illustrating how cultural differences can complicate classrooms. This chapter’s stories depict mental misalignments occurring when knowledge-focused students encountered a learner-focused classroom teacher. Others relate the opposite experience: learner-focused students with a knowledge-focused teacher. For a review of the qualities of learner- and knowledge-focused classroom cultures, visit Appendix A.
7.01
Teacher bristles at being found in error by a student
Place: Vietnam
Level: high school
People: Vietnamese teacher and student
Summary: During class, student corrects the teacher’s error, inciting his anger.
7.02
Trainer of a multicultural group encounters agitation
Place: United States
Level: corporate training
People: trainer, trainees from many nations
Summary: Trainer yields stage to a trainee, upsetting some other trainees.
7.03
Professor navigates a formality speedbump in Alabama
Place: Alabama
Level: university
People: new professor, other students including adults
Summary: Professor wants students to treat him informally, but they won’t.
7.04
Jordanian student rails at the tone of his teacher’s feedback
Place: Middle East
Level: university
People: Jordanian student, U.S. teacher
Summary: Student objects to sharp tone of teacher’s written feedback on papers.
7.05
Grad student defers to her professor’s advanced knowledge
Place: Japan
Level: graduate school
People: Japanese student & teacher, U.S. student
Summary: Japanese student won’t answer question her nearby teacher could answer.
7.06
Asian Indian challenged, then disillusioned, at a U.S. college
Place: United States
Level: undergraduate
People: student from India, U.S. fellow students
Summary: Indian is thrilled by opportunities, disheartened by U.S. students.
7.07
East Asian teacher mothers her American grad student
Place: China
Level: graduate school
People: American student, Chinese teacher
Summary: Teacher dispenses advice about how to dress, behave, do practical things.
7.08
Arab American can’t ask questions at a Middle Eastern university
Place: Middle East
Level: undergraduate
People: Arab student from U.S., Arab teachers
Summary: Teachers react negatively to student’s in-class questions.
7.09
Native American pupils’ behavior perplexes a new teacher
Place: U.S. Southwest
Level: lower primary
People: Native pupils, Anglo teacher
Summary: Native pupils refuse to participate in show-and-tell exercise.
7.10
Western trainer in Asia encounters unfamiliar trainee behavior
Place: Asia
Level: corporate training
People: experienced Australian trainer, Chinese trainees
Summary: Trainer finds that Chinese don’t respond like Western trainees.
7.11
American confronts challenge of learning the Chinese way
Place: China
Level: language tutoring
People: adult U.S. student, Chinese tutor
Summary: Student upset by tutor’s lack of encouragement, focus on errors.
7.12
The teacher as the only credible authority in Tanzania
Place: Tanzania
Level: undergraduate
People: U.S. teacher, local students
Summary: Teacher asks students to read books, report to class; it doesn’t go well.
7.13
American mother dismayed by Shanghai kindergarten scene
Place: China
Level: kindergarten
People: U.S. mother, Chinese teachers
Summary: Mother visits a local kindergarten, is shocked by teachers’ harshness.
7.14
American teacher loosens up a Chinese college classroom
Place: China
Level: university
People: U.S. teacher, his Chinese supervisor
Summary: After visiting teacher’s classroom, supervisor calls him to account.
7.15
A consequential controversy over the usefulness of textbooks
Place: New Zealand
Level: adult English classes
People: language school owner, Chinese students
Summary: Students upset by absence of textbooks.
7.16
Pandemonium erupts in a Western business course in China
Place: China
Level: business school
People: U.S. teachers, Chinese students
Summary: Students revolt when teachers offer certain information to them.
7.17
Western teachers strongly criticized at a Chinese university
Place: China
Level: university
People: Chinese students, Western English teachers
Summary: Students strongly object to progressive methods and explain why.
7.18
Communitarian pupils outwit their individualistic teacher
Place: British Columbia
Level: primary
People: Kwakiutl pupils, U.S. teacher
Summary: Nothing teacher tries proves effective with Kwakiutl pupils.
7.19
Professor ponders student silence in Japan: A story in two parts
Place: Japan
Level: undergraduate
People: Canadian teacher, local students
Summary: Teacher finds that, despite classroom silence, students are deeply engaged.