3 ibunka-manuel-NV2-L3

CULTURE SHOCK

Being a “good student” is not only about good grades- your behavior in the classroom LQˊXHQFHV WKH ZD\ \RXU WHDFKHU DQG VWXGHQWV FRPPXQLFDWH ZLWK \RX %XW ZKDW LV appropriate might be very different if you study or teach in a culture different from your own. Two people- a teacher and a student- responded to the Ibunka Survey talking about their different views on the same topic.

6 be faced with~ hard to take in control of~defy defy

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I did a one-year study abroad program in the US. The biggest shock I had in class was about how quickly everyone was replying. I remember being surprised when a classmate was put on the spot by the teacher and said “I’m not sure.” without blinking an eye. I wondered why he wasn’t looking a bit harder for the answer. But everyone seemed to be OK with that.

In Japan I was faced many times \NYM F INKƳHZQY XNYZFYNTS F XYZIJSY staying completely silent after I asked them a question in front of the whole class. As a language teacher, that was hard to take. I felt a lot of pressure when it happened to me but I tried to hide it, to show I was in control of the class. I don’t think my students knew I was feeling so stressed.

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authority

Carmen Spanish, teacher, lives in Japan

be put on the spot without blinking an eye 8

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Gradually I got into the habit of replying straight away whenever I was asked a question, even if I didn’t know the answer. It wasn’t JFX^ KTW RJ FY ƳWXY GZY people were looking at me strangely if I didn’t.

straight away 9

In Spain, a student not responding to a direct question would mean that the student is defying the teacher's authority. It's quite embarrassing for everyone. Simply saying "I don't know" is a much better option.

Ken Japanese, employee, has lived in the US

True False

Carmen sometimes felt stress and pressure in Japanese classrooms because students didn’t respond to her questions

In the culture Carmen grew up in, it’s considered rude for students to say “I don’t know” directly to their teacher

Ken was surprised at how hard American students looked for the answers to their teacher’s questions

After some time, Ken became able to respond to his teacher within a few seconds

CREATIVITY

Draw a simple manga based on the topic of this Unit. It may be from your experience or your imagination.

Unit 3 I In the Classroom 23