learning in a new culture learning in an intercultural...
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Learning in a New Culture Learning in an Intercultural Context
Lars Peter and Xiangyun Duxiangyun@plan.aau.dkOctober 19th, 2004
Agenda Agenda !! 8:15 8:15 –– 9:10 Presentation by Xiangyun 9:10 Presentation by Xiangyun
-- My story My story –– learning in a new culture learning in a new culture as a foreign student as a foreign student -- Reflection on cultural background Reflection on cultural background -- Intercultural communication Intercultural communication
!! 9:10 9:10 –– 11:00 Intercultural group 11:00 Intercultural group discussion and preparation for discussion and preparation for poster presentation poster presentation
!! 11:00 11:00 –– 12:00 Poster presentation 12:00 Poster presentation
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Helping foreign students learn how to learn in PBL, Denmark
PHD project on Learning engineering
in PBL – gendered practice
Doing research on intercultural teaching and
learning
WHO AM I ?
My Personal GrowthFrom a ‘good’ student in China
to a teacher in an Engineering University
Routine Student life School -home
Study hard Active in class A good girlIn the eyes of
teachers
Hard work – good performance- Good student – diploma Became a teacher
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I want to see the world!I want to learn new things!
An international master program in RUC, Denmark,
where I experienced PBL as a student
Specialization of Gender & Engineering
Education in Linköping, Sweden
Life was not easy!
I don’t
understand
the lecturer
What on earththe supervisor wanted
me to do?
So difficult to do a project in group work!
I am Depressed!
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Difficulties in Getting In the New Learning Culture –With Lectures
• I expected to get more ‘knowledge’(facts) from teachers
• I expected to get ‘right’ answers from teachers
• I expected teachers to talk more and be the hero in class
• I was not used to be asked about my opinion in public
• I dropped the head unconsciously when the teachers were asking questions and expecting response
" To rethink the culturally situated meaning of knowledge and to be open to another way of learning
Problems in Project Work -With Supervision
• We shifted the topic in order to draw the interest of the supervisor
• Supervisor sometimes could not remember our progress in the project
• I expected to have more inputs from supervisor at the beginning
• Supervisor only provide questionsrather than direct answers –‘What do you think?’ ‘Why?’ ‘How?’
" It is your BABY! It is the students’ role to be active and take the
responsibility of the project.
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Problems in Project Work-With Group Work
• misunderstanding arising from saying something we don’t actually mean (language use)
• different values on ‘good manners’ (‘Yes’ to be polite)• different norms on human relations (social status/genders)• different attitudes towards success and failure• different ways of conducting discussions and arguments (one-
way meeting, order for speaking)• different ways of learning (learning styles)" Cooperation is very important to get the project done! – To understand, negotiate, and compromise.
Am I stupid?
Am I different?
Why?
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Main Barriers in learning Come from Culture Differences
"Communication • Language• Social customs, attitudes, norms, and values"Knowledge background • lack of knowledge others grow up with • different understanding of the same thing
New country
Learning in a new
culture
New study form
New Environment
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Learning Environment in China# Teacher-centred with focus on lectures # Fixed contents as obligation • Loyalty and obedience to authority (teachers and
textbooks) is highly essential (‘One day a teacher, Father for the whole life’)# To be fed up with fish rather than be taught to fish# Big class – little discussion# Principles and regulations to follow# Learning by heart # Scores and ranks-based assessment - motivation# Marks are the only way of evaluating students - ranks in the exam are the standard for ‘good’ student
How do Chinese Learn
Students are expected to - Learn what and how rather than why- Learn knowledge (facts) transferred
from teachers- Follow up superiors’ experiences and
suggestions- Obey disciplines and rules- To study diligently by repetition and
memorizing
Learning Environment in ChinaLearning Environment in China
No interruption to teachers No speaking in a lecture unless when asked personallyNo challenge and criticism to teaching contents and teachers Not to make teachers lose face
Principles Uniforms
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Learning Environment in Denmarkin My Eyes
# student-centred, involving sufficient cooperative group work and varied teaching methods
# contents are presented in a meaningful context# learning by doing# smaller classes# warmer class climate # more ways of assessment than multiple choice-
centred exams # assessment is conducted in less threatening
ways
Things I Did Learn in the New Culture -- My Strategies to ‘Survive’My Strategies to ‘Survive’
" To be open- to understand and see things in a new way - to share some common understanding
" To be active- to catch chances rather than wait passively- to explain and clarify myself - ‘By saying this, I mean…’ ‘Am I clear in this way?’ ‘Is this understandable?’
" To be patient- to understand others’ point before getting offended
‘do you mean… by saying this?’ - to think from other’s perspective - to ask myself ‘why they do it in this way?’ rather than just complaining ‘how can they do it in this way!’
" To ask ‘stupid’ questions– There are NO stupid questions!
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How do you understand culture and
cultural difference?
Cultural Differences 1 - Different ways of doing the same thing
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Plan A:• Salaries like in Switzerland• Taxes like in Luxembourg• German cars• English country style as
standard housing• French wine• Italian food• Belgium beer• Austrian skiing facilities • Public authorities like in
Denmark
Plan B:• Polish salaries• Danish Taxes• Spanish cars• East German housing • German wine• Norwegian food• French beer• Dutch Skiing facilities• Public authorities like
in Italy
Cultural differences 2
– different strengths and weakness Example: Secret plan for harmonising EU
Intercultural Communication 1Impact of globalisation
• Future engineers are expected to know cultures and have social concern
• Engineering teams will be multi-national, diverse in terms of language, culture, and geographically distributed
• Companies will look for engineers with international perspective, who are able to conduct business globally, and deal with diverse business cultures and government regulations
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Intercultural Communication 2Cultural stereotypes
$ Western World in the eyes of Chinese :• Individualism• Free• Open and straight French: Romantic American: free German: principledBritish: reservedItalian: warm $ What is the stereotype of Chinese in your impression?
Intercultural Communication 2Cultural stereotypes
$ How do you think about Danish culture? $ Danish in my eyes: • Friendly-indifferent-warm to outsiders• Committed and responsible in work • Self-principled and contextual flexible • Collaborative in work but self-concerned
individualism in private life • Fair• Honest • Enjoying life• Value-driven
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Intercultural Communication 3 Theory
CulturalFactors
ContextualFactors
Cognition
Affect
Behavior
Intercultural Communication 3miscommunication and conflicts
••Miscommunication arises Miscommunication arises ••when behaviour of a when behaviour of a person from one person from one ••culture is judged within culture is judged within the framework the framework ••of another cultureof another culture
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Intercultural Communication 4- Understanding cultural differences- Learning from cultural differences
To provoke learning in an Intercultural context, it is Important to achieve positive communication
An example of Cultural difference
In concern with Student life
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6:30 Get up in dorm
6:30-7:00 Morning Exercise
Student Life in China
7:00 Breakfast in Canteen
7:30 – 8:00 Morning Reading
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8:00 – 9:50Morning Lectures
10:10 – 12:00 Morning Lectures
14:00-16:00 Afternoon Activities
Lectures Supervision
Laboratory Library
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Exams
Written form Hard tasks
Textbook knowledge based Scores matter
Good Good Study, Day Day Up!
Study hard - high marks - diploma - good student
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New Life Shopping?
Cooking?
Transportation?
Housing?
in Denmark
Study in Aalborg University, Denmark
Lectures
Practice
Supervision
Doing project In groups
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Doing project in groups
Group meeting
Brainstorm
Subgroup work
Discussion Disagreement
Presentation
Compromise
Exam Report writing
Life
Spare time activities
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