5/21/2020 Cultural Miscommunication

Minimizing the Barriers of Cultural Communication

What do you see in the picture above?  They are both professional but they seem to have exchanged  culture or they  just misunderstood each other? What where they taught at school?
Study of the different cultural differences is overwhelming for there are so many. Without seriously studying it, will surely lead to problems in communication among diverse colleague.  There are of course factors that we might consider to learn. According to typetalk.com here are some of those factors:Factors:1. EducationSome of us pursue formal training (i.e. college degrees, certification programs etc.) before entering our career. How people acquire knowledge and skills can shape how they approach work and people around them.2.Personal BackgroundWhere people grow up or currently live can influence their work values. For example, New Yorkers are known for their fast pace and long hours. Someone new to New York City may struggle to keep up with that pace and a New Yorker moving to a smaller city might rub some peoople the wrong way with their constant sense of urgency.3. EthnicityEthicity or national origin creates a lot of differences in regards to how people perceive certain expression, behaviors, and habits.4. GenerationThere are plenty of ideas about the cultural differences between Millenials, Generation X and Baby Boomers. Our varying life experiences and stages in life can strongly influence how we act and think when it comes to dealing and communicating with people.5. Work ExperienceWhen someone moves from a bigger company to a startup or vice versa, they often face some form of a culture shock when they get there. Same thing happens when a teacher moved from public to private or vice versa. Their experiences may cause miscommunication too..
After learning these factors here are my personal tips:1. Educate yourself2. Be patient with others3. Enjoy diversity

Reference:


 

https://www.typetalk.com/blog/overcoming-cultural-barriers%E2%80%8B-communication/

5/21/2020 Cultural Differences Concerning Time

Monochronic Versus Polychronic Time

Hi Everyone,

Let me share my new learning on diversity. This time it is about cultural time differences. Thanks to the lecture of professor Iver of BYUI on line education (my TESOL class). It is amazing. I finally found the perfect ideas how to articulate the behaviors of different cultures as pertains the observance and use of time. The map below shows that more places in the world including my country the Philippines, belongs to the polychronic time culture. I say yes to this ideas and I,  myself is so comfortable in my polychronic time except at work. My work has already taught me to be monochronic. Late reporting to work means salary deduction. So somehow I would say, I am living in both time culture.

Map of Monochronic and Polychronic cultures (click to enlarge)
Based on Morden, 1999; Kotabe and Helsen, 2001

Below is a quick look for this differences:

            

Monochronic Cultures	Polychronic Cultures
They prefer doing one thing at a time	They prefer doing many things at the same time
They concentrate on their tasks and try not to disturb others	Interruptions aren’t really interruptions, they can still carry on with what they’re doing now or later
Time is linear, they take deadlines and time schedules seriously	Time is spatial. Deadlines and time schedules can be kept to, if possible
Their communication is low context	Their communication is high context
They need explicit information	They don’t usually need explicit information, because that is what their network is for, to keep them informed up to the minute
They’re task oriented	They’re relationship oriented
They do their work swiftly and promptly	How swiftly and promptly they work depends completely on how good the relationship is
They make plans and keep to them	They make plans and change them with the greatest ease and flexibility

My own thoughts and take away for teachings are:

• understand your own time to understand the difference from others
• always consider your learners culture time background
• have a lot of patience and understanding
• be amazed and enjoy diversity.

References:

Kristof ( 2019) Are your Freelancers Polychronic or  Monochronic?.https://habitgrowth.com/polychronic-vs-monochronic/

5/18/2020 ;Week 5:Cultural Paradigms

Demystifying Cultural Paradigms: A Shocking View of Reality


  Cultural Paradigm is a shocking and amazing fact that an individual my find as he/she begins the study of human or learners' diversity. In simple words, this paradigms are how people look, and experience things as compared to other people and other places.

In my study of this topic, although I am aware of the many differences existing in many culture, I found myself so amazed of the following facts I just discovered:

•  In America, friends find humor in insulting each other. It’s a strange anthropological rite of passage in America. You're not part of the group until they start insulting you and laughing at everything cool. If you're roommates haven't started insulting you and laughing about it you're not quite a member of the group yet. It's a strange American thing. Whereas it doesn't work in all cultures. You have to be real careful of things like that ( Prof J. Ivers (2020) , BYU-Idaho Online Learning Video Transcript). Hearing this fact helps me to explain what is going on in with my friends here in the Philippines when we make fun and insult each other. I think we are already adopting this culture although most of the time we end up apologizing.

• African people have rich culture to understand, in their place they seem to be perfectly living a good life and finds other culture such as American culture absurd. Having more wives with them is okay. You may watch the national geographic documentary about some Sudanist guys experience of other culture in this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0kzF4A-WQ  
• Beauty has many different definition. Slim in other country is ugly but beautiful in others ( see also this TED Talk  https://www.ted.com/talks/delali_bright_cultural_clashes_in_defining_beauty#t-241643)       

The most shocking of all... the cultural paradigm in education...

• Yes, I found that it is "Meritocracy Paradigms in education" is the most shocking to me and I admit that I also have this thinking just like most people. 
• Meritocracy says things need to be earned.  You need to deserve what you get.  If you get something good it needs to be deserved.  You need to stand out to deserve it. Prof Ivers (2020) mentioned that the smartest kids are the only one allowed in top ranking schools instead of the dumbest ones so they get the best education to succeed.

So my honest question is... Why would the smartest guys in this planet would only keep the best education to themselves?  Perhaps this twisted paradigm is the very reason why up to this time our educational system cannot solve the problems in education/learning.

 
Study of Cultural paradigms is truly amazing. Understanding and doing something with these paradigms could be the key to problems in education.

Rerences:
Prof J. Ivers (2020) , BYU-Idaho Online Learning Video Transcript
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0kzF4A-WQ
https://www.ted.com/talks/delali_bright_cultural_clashes_in_defining_beauty#t-241643)

4/30/2020-Week2 Response to "Is the Great American Teacher Dead?"

Students are not really learning today!

I am posting today as a parent to give my observations on the status of how the educational system and my own encounters and observation with teachers. I have three children in the primary and secondary schools and I really have a lot of questions on how the system works today.

Here are some of my direct observations about school and how disappointing it is for a parent like me:

• I often hear from older people who were blessed to attend higher education including senior teachers, although they are getting fewer now and replaced by new generation of teachers, that educational system where much better during their times.
• I even heard senior teachers who are openly willing to retire anytime soon because they cannot tolerate less behaving students because to them the system is not working anymore. Parents would aggressively confront teachers who would imposed disciplinary measures inside the classroom only to be exposed by parents in social media before even bringing the matter to the school administration.   
• I was also among those students who witnessed corporal punishment being allowed in the classroom and yet students were brighter, disciplined and dedicated to learn as compared today where everything seems kind, accommodating plus the tremendous help and effect of technology but students lack focus and discipline.
• Teachers are always required to attend seminars and innovations never cease and yet the good effect to children  seems too slow. Performances are still low as shown in national exam results or researches.  

So the big question is "What is going on?" Is it the the teachers? Is it the methodologies or the entire system? 

In my quest to answer these questions, here are just some of the readings I found helpful.

• The work of Daniyal et al (2011) says that teaching methodologies and students' lacking English foundation negatively affect their performance. From this, I would say that teachers can really do something to cement the foundation of learners.
• Ivers (2012) assumptions give me hope that my children will be learning if these things will be applied by my children's teachers and the rest. 1. Positive teacher-student relationship 2. A good “delivery” 3. Edifies rather than damages a student’s self-concept 4. Clarity (through the use of many examples and stories) 5. Encourages deep and critical thinking 6. Variety instead of monotony. 7. Grading and workload is generally perceived to be fair 8. Enthusiasm and zest for the topic 9. Meaningful to real world problems 10. Potentially transforms one’s world view from one of uncritical acceptance of cultural dictates to one of deep, reflective, and compassionate thinking.

As a parent, I am also aware of the efforts by the teachers and administration but  my role as a parent will help my children to succeed. I just hope that my questions will really be answered by educators.

References:
Daniyal, M. et al (2011).The Factors affecting the students’ performance: A case study of The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236877903_The_Factors_affecting_the_students'_performance_A_case_study_of_The_Islamia_University_of_Bahawalpur_Pakistan

 Ivers, J. (2012) Is the Great American Teacher Dead? Principles to Resurrect Meaningful, Effective, and Consciousness Raising Instruction. Journal of Invitational Theory and Practice ● Volume 18, 2012 

My First Blog

Hello Everyone! My name is Melvi Briones and I'm from the Philippines. I live an  hour and a half away from the majestic, perfect coned Mayon Vocano.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was baptized when I was eight years old.

My most important treasure in life is my family. We love outdoor activities and eating too.