Communicating Across CulturesA Guide for TeachersHow to include culture learning in English language classes Linell Davis January 2005What do we mean by culture?• Chinese speakers often mean characteristics of Chinese people as compared to characteristics of people from other nations • Knowledge about culture is often expressed as generalizations• The English are conservative• Americans are individualistic• The French are romantic• National culture• Personal traits of people from that nationMore meanings of culture• Way of life of any group– Regional culture- north/south, rural/urban– Religious culture- Christian, Buddhist, Moslem– Ethnic culture- Han, Hui, Tibetan, Xinjiang– Gender culture- male/female– Economic class culture- farmer/intellectual/business– Generational culture- youth/middle age/elderly– Organizational culture – schools, education“Way of Life” definition of culture• Assumes that people with similar life experiences share VALUES.• They see the world in similar ways.• Members of important groups share MEANINGS.• They can understand one another more easily than they can understand people from other groups.• Group membership is often more important than national culture.What do I know about the NBA?• Nothing at all• I am female and I am old• The NBA is American and I am an American• It is an experience shared by male members of the international youth culture• I am not a member of that culture• So, don’t assume that national culture is the only or best level of analysis What do I know about teaching?• A lot; it is my love, my craft, my life• I share many experiences with other teachers• It doesn’t matter whether they are Americans or Chinese• We can communicate abou...
