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Crossing Cultures in the Language Classroom
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.
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.
- GenresLinguistics
360 pages, Paperback
Published January 28, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 10, 2022
A fairly complex book to understand that the language also influences the culture. Different cultures have been discussed in several chapters, taking into account factors such as age, sex, status within a collectivist or individualistic culture.
A subjective opinion is that I don't like the collectivist culture, I have certain differences in terms of my personal issues and preferences when I have to make friends or do things in groups when this kind of everyday activities when I am under the regime of a collectivist culture, as part of being Latina.
This has been interesting in clarifying, in exemplifying and contextualizing different points of cultures to understand that the language not only comprises theoretical and linguistic parts but also, in which language it understands parts of the culture.
A subjective opinion is that I don't like the collectivist culture, I have certain differences in terms of my personal issues and preferences when I have to make friends or do things in groups when this kind of everyday activities when I am under the regime of a collectivist culture, as part of being Latina.
This has been interesting in clarifying, in exemplifying and contextualizing different points of cultures to understand that the language not only comprises theoretical and linguistic parts but also, in which language it understands parts of the culture.
September 8, 2012
It was a good read to know about cultures and what makes us all different. I learned quite a bit and discovered we need to be open and willing to learn from each other and not to judge just because something is done differently than you would. I read this for my TESOL class, you will be happy to know I got an A.
September 27, 2020
One of the few textbooks I’ve read cover to cover. Beyond fascinating, and love the suggested activities at the end of each chapter that can be done with students.
February 25, 2025
Not bad for a textbook
September 8, 2012
Very readable for a text. I enjoyed the insights on culture.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews