Cultural+Aspects+of+Learning

// This page will be a resource of information related to the impact of cultural differences in teaching situations. Some of this may be annacdotal; from literature or from internet sources. It would be helpful to highligh both the problems that arise and possible solutions and ways of working with learners who have different orientations to learning.//
 * To make a contribution, click on EDIT (top right). Before leaving the page, always remember to click on the SAVE button.**

Hi, this in itself is a cultural experience - learning to use a wiki. I'm not sure what I am doing is correct, instructions don't appear clear, the language has unfamiliar terms, it is a new experience unknown and outside of my previous experience. There is a apprehension I may "stuff it up", and or write or say the incorrect things. For me this experience is in English and on a computer a tool on which i have some experience so imagine what it would be like if it was in a second language, with people of differing religious beliefs, differing levels of technical skill, educational level and life experiences.- Joanne An interesting analogy - the other aspect is the more frequently you have to grapple with this 'foreign' communication tool, the easier it becomes - well assuming you are willing to learn to get to grips with it.... it all takes time and effort. Linda Hi I have found my way back into the wiki. A good start. Joanne I've decided to add this quote i picked up on a cultural training day " Regardless of how many people there are in an audience there remains but one giver and one reciever of a message. Both messenger and reciever act through a culturally laden environment and both are individulised. Thus it is not possible to make assumptions about ideas or behaviours of the other participant or to stereotype people as group members. In Cultural Safety thinking, biculturalism does not refer to the ethnic specific origin of any person, rather it refers to their individuality and their interaction at a specific time drawing on their own experience and their search for shared meaning, that is trust." - Unknown source.

The following table should be used to record your experiences of cultural difference. Try to define the phenomena, describe the context and then discuss what you did or might have done to resolve the situation. (I was not very clever about inserting this table - if anyone can widen the first 2 columns I would be grateful! Linda) //(Hi Linda - I had a go at altering the table - but it reverts when saved. I think the table adjusts itself to the amount of text in each column - so if someone writes a lot in the first two it will re-distribute itslef automatically. - mary) Yes, I see what you mean - very clever! Linda//
 * **Examples of cultural phenomena might include:** || **Give a brief description of your situation** || **How could you / did you modify your approach** ||  ||
 * Speaking too quickly || This is NZ characteristic which I discovered when living in Thailand || Think about how much information your GP provides in a consultation – how much do you remember later? I try and keep this in mind – related both to speed and content. Repetition is a good strategy. || Linda ||
 * In my experieince in New Zealand we will often provide an opportunity for people to be introduced to each other at the beginning of a workshop - eg.a round of introductions even if it is name and where you come from, or in large groups getting people to raise their hand to identify with a particular discipline or as coming from a particular geographical place - in some way acknowledging who is in the audience.

Thank you for sharing this Mary. I did not realise it was cultural It make me think of my own cultural travels whilst travelling. In rarotonga workshops and each working day was opened and closed with prayer. Singapore - when working in the mosques it was legs and heads covered. -Joanne || I had not thought of this as 'cultural' until I attended a 3-day workshop in Victoria recently with 3 other kiwis. The speaker was introduced and then launched right in. It felt awkward not knowing who was in the room - and the tutor had no idea until half way through that there were therapists there who were not from Australia. As NZ'ers we found this strange. || I realised that I value the knowledge of who people are - and that this is important - particuarly in a teaching situation in order to acknoeldge the participants as people and to adjust the content and style to suit. Making room for people to introduce themselves is in keeping with Maori cultural practices - saying ones mihi - acknowledging one another before having conversations or working together. || Mary || I'll finish with a cultural experience from yesterday. I was asked to speak to a Kaumatua group about my role and yesterday was the agreed date. I visit and refer to this group frequently. On arriving I was greeted, and after carrying in some sample equipment and the Enable funding criteria manual. I was again welcomed with it is so good you could come and how meaningful it was to the group. I was then asked if I wanted to join the scrabble or flag 500 table. I played scrabble. The "expected " stay for lunch was forthcoming. At lunch the co ordinator thanked me for coming, stating how worthwhile it was and how all the participants now knew me so much better and how they would feel so much more comfortable with me. Just shows the different expectation we both had. My opportunity to promote OT in OT week was somewhat different to how I percieved it would go. Well done – also an example of cultural sensitivity that could be put in the Wiki! ||  ||   || Joanne ||
 * From an Email to Linda and Alexa.
 * Uses of Food as a sign of welcome and appreciation and communication || Doing community mental health home visits to a cambodian woman. Being offered copious amounts of food and being given food to take away. This being seen as an 'essential' polite way of welcoming anyone (even in a professional capacity) to your home. Saying No just wasnt an option.!! || In checking it out with others who have experience of cambodian culture realised it was important not to refuse this food and a way of building rapport. Always made sure I hadnt eaten lunch just before and tried to be as polite with the amounts I ate as possible?!! || Vicky ||