subject: Issues you ought to know prior to teaching English courses in foreign countries [print this page] Issues you ought to know prior to teaching English courses in foreign countries
Connecting and reaching out to students at the beginning of a lesson may be a tough job for anyone who is teaching foreign students. Here are certain tips to avoid the clash of cultures inside the classroom.
Be ready to face a bunch of unresponsive students in Asian countries at the beginning. Unlike US, where students are used to much more active classrooms, most Asian nations like Vietnam, China, Cambodia etc. are more used to classes where the students are patient listeners.
Attempt breaking the ice with the students by behaving correctly. Informality in dressing, like wearing jeans, and casual sneakers in class and sitting on desks sipping coffee, is well accepted in the US. But the rest of the world sees it a bit differently. Dressing up formally or semi-formally and maintaining a dignity befitting a teacher is what students anticipate in a great number of countries. In Asia, semi-formal attire is accepted for teachers, whereas in Korea dark colors exhibit an authoritative look.
To stay clear of clashes inside the classroom, it's best to choose safe topics for discussion. The teacher must decide which topics are considered cultural, political or socially taboos and stay clear of them at all costs. One can find nations where these discussions might not work, like the Middle Eastern countries, which have scruples in giving their opinion on any matters. Other than this, the may Polish feel uncomfortable stating their religious beliefs and salaries, French consider questions pertaining to family life being rude etc.
Most students nod their head in approval even if they fail to fully grasp. Try asking some questions which will reveal how far they've understood and explain the matter again. However, in no way ask, "Do you understand?" as you'll by no means get the correct answer to this question. In China, "a student who asks questions is regarded as a pain in the neck" , so they keep away from asking questions even if they don't understand. Yet another reason behind this can be boredom. Try to spot this and make things fascinating, to ensure that the students do not loose interest.In a bid to determine whether the students have understood or not, don't single them out. This might be beneficial in America where students feel proud to answer questions because of the competitive spirit, but other countries look upon it as boasting of your understanding. So attempt to give assignments and quizzes dividing the class into groups. Give them homework and grammar worksheets to test their knowledge. Even encourage them to talk in English to ensure that you can actually correct them, but only in grammar class and not outside. This will help with their progress too.
Try to learn the local language as soon as possible for the reason that this will bring you closer to your students, who will be able to communicate with you without being fearful of humiliation. This will also assist you to to select better and more relevant topics for discussion and sort out pronunciation difficulties. It truly is much better for you to know cross - cultural styles of communication, as this helps to regulate your behavior accordingly. Like American students prefer participation, French like sense of humor introduced in lectures, and Japanese on the other hand feel silence is necessary between questions allowing the student to think.
Make the class interesting and dynamic by introducing real objects and deliver your lectures on the basis of rationale. Adjust your teaching technique from time to time as some students learn more easily by listening, some by reading, and some by writing.
