Crossing Cultures in the Language Classroom, Second Edition

by Andrea DeCapua, Ann C. Wintergerst

Overview

A MICHIGAN TEACHER TRAINING title

Teachers are often in the forefront of today’s cross-cultural contact, whether in the language classroom or in the K-12 or university/college classroom, but they are not always prepared to handle the various issues that can arise in terms of cross-cultural communication. The intent of this book is to make education in cross-cultural awareness accessible to a broad range of teachers working in a variety of educational settings.
 
Crossing Cultures in the Language Classroom attempts to balance theory and practice for pre-service and in-service teachers in general education programs or in ESL/EFL, bilingual, and foreign language teacher training programs, as well as cross-cultural awareness workshops. This book is unique in that it combines theory with a wide range of experiential activities and projects designed to actively engage users in the process of understanding different aspects of cross-cultural awareness. The goals of the book are to help readers:

• expand cultural awareness of one’s own culture and that of others
• achieve a deeper understanding of what culture is and the relationship between culture and language
• acquire the ability to observe behaviors in order to draw conclusions based on observation rather than preconceptions
• understand and implement observations of cultural similarities and differences
• develop an attitude of tolerance toward cultural differences and move away from the “single story.”

The new edition has been thoroughly updated and includes a Suggested Projects section in each chapter. This section provides opportunities for users of the text to explore in greater depth an area and topic of interest. It also includes even more Critical Incidents—brief descriptions of events that depict some element or elements of cultural differences, miscommunication, or culture clash. Critical Incidents develop users’ ability to analyze and understand how multiple perspectives of the same situation are rooted in differing culturally influenced beliefs, behaviors, norms of interaction, and worldviews.
 
 

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780472036417
Publisher:	University of Michigan Press
Publication date:	01/28/2016
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Second Edition 1

1 An Introduction to Culture 9

I Anecdote: "What Is the Real Answer?" 9

Discussion of Key Issues 10

Questions for Thought 11

II Theory: What Research Tells Us 12

The Concept of Culture 12

Defining Culture 14

Elements of Culture 20

Language and Linguistic Relativity 26

Language and Culture 29

Teaching and Learning Connections 31

Questions for Study and Discussion 34

III Practice: What Activities Show Us 36

A Defining Culture 36

B Class Begins 37

C Our Eyes Deceive Us 38

D Ernies and Etics of Culture 43

E Values 44

F Shared Backgrounds 48

G Reactions 50

H Draw Me! 51

IV Suggested Projects 54

V Internet Resources 54

VI Further Readings 55

2 Cultural Perspectives 59

I Anecdote: "Was It the Food?" 59

Discussion of Key Issues 60

Questions for Thought 61

II Theory: What Research Tells Us 61

Individualism and Collectivism 61

Polychronic and Monochronic Time 67

Face 69

Societal Roles 72

Ethnocentrism 73

Pragmatics and Discourse 79

Non-Verbal Behavior 82

Cross-Cultural Communication Difficulties 83

Teaching and Learning Connections 85

Questions for Study and Discussion 87

III Practice: What Activities Show Us 89

A Cross-Cultural Trivia Quiz 89

B Proverbs 92

C Cultural Perceptions: "We and They" 95

D The Elephant in the Room 96

E Different Eyes 100

F Critical Incidents (and Discussions) 102

G Simulation: The Milapalanders 107

H The Grapevine 110

I Knowing Another Language 112

IV Suggested Projects 114

V Internet Resources 114

VI Further Readings 115

3 Culture Shock 119

I Anecdote: "It's in the Details" 119

Discussion of Key Issues 120

Questions for Thought 121

II Theory: What Research Tells Us 121

Defining Culture Shock 121

Stages of Culture Shock 122

Causes of Culture Shock 125

Aspects of Culture Shock 128

A Learning Process 134

Teaching and Learning Connections 135

Questions for Study and Discussion 136

III Practice: What Activities Show Us 138

A Defining Culture Shock 138

B Knowing What's Coming 139

C Colliding Cultures 141

D Semantic Associations 142

E Critical Incidents (and Discussions) 143

F Evaluating Anxiety 150

G What's Normal? 152

H Who Am I? 153

IV Suggested Projects 155

V Internet Resources 156

VI Further Readings 157