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Learning in a New Culture Learning in an Intercultural Context

Learning in a New Culture Learning in an Intercultural Context. Xiangyun and Lars Peter xiangyun@plan.aau.dk October 11 th , 2005. What are the things confronting when entering a new culture?. Things that have been taken for granted in one culture might be unknown in another. Parents.

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Learning in a New Culture Learning in an Intercultural Context

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  1. Learning in a New Culture Learning in an Intercultural Context Xiangyun and Lars Peter xiangyun@plan.aau.dk October 11th, 2005

  2. What are the things confronting when entering a new culture?

  3. Things that have been taken for granted in one culture might be unknown in another • Parents

  4. Things that have been taken for granted in one culture might be unknown in another • Hotpot

  5. Agenda • 8:15 - 9:15 Presentation by Xiangyun - My story – learning in a new culture as a foreign student - Reflection on cultural background - Intercultural communication • 9:30 – 10:45 Intercultural group discussion and preparation for poster presentation • 10:45 – 12:00 Poster presentation

  6. Doing research on intercultural teaching and learning Helping foreign students learn how to learn in PBL, Denmark PHD project on Learning engineering in PBL – gendered practice WHO AM I ?

  7. Routine Student life School -home Study hard Active in class A good girl In the eyes of teachers Became a teacher My Personal GrowthFrom a ‘good’ student in Chinato a teacher in an Engineering University Hard work – good performance - Good student – diploma

  8. 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

  9. I don’t understand the lecturer What on earth the supervisor wanted me to do? I am Depressed! So difficult to do a project in group work! Life was not easy!

  10. Difficulties in Getting In the New Learning Culture –With Lectures Answers Knowledge

  11. Problems in Project Work -With Supervision What Shall I do????? Why? How? What? The project is your own baby!

  12. Will they believe me because I am a girl?? NO, I can’t get up anyway Problems in Project Work -With Group Work YES, we can meet at 8 tomorrow morning It is my turn to talk? If we don’t follow supervisor’s suggestion, will he allow us to pass? Listen to me, I am very experienced They don’t understand such easy things!! He complains of my garlic, but he has coffee and carrots all the time!!!

  13. Am I stupid? Am I different? Why?

  14. 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

  15. New country Rethinking about NEW Learning in a new culture New study form New Environment

  16. Learning Environment I was used to in China • Teacher-centred • Fixed contents • following authority (teachers and textbooks) • Big class – little discussion • Principles and regulations • Learning by heart • Scores and ranks-based assessment – motivation (ranking system)

  17. Learning Environment I was used to in China How do Chinese Learn Students are expected to - Learn what and how rather than why - Follow superiors’ experiences and suggestions - Behave well - Be diligent Principles Uniforms No interruption to teachers No speaking in a lecture unless when asked personally No challenge and criticism to teaching contents and teachers Not to make teachers lose face

  18. Learning Environment in Denmarkin My Eyes • student-centred (group work and varied teaching methods) • Contextualized contents • learning by doing • smaller classes • warmer class climate • more ways of assessment than multiple choice- centred exams

  19. What I have learned - ‘Survival’ Strategies • To open up my eyes and mind • To be active and initiative - chances are created • To be patient - to ask ‘why?’ before getting offended and complaining ‘how!’ • To ask ‘stupid’ questions

  20. How do you understand culture and cultural difference?

  21. Cultural Differences 1 - Different ways of doing the same thing

  22. 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

  23. Intercultural Communication 1Impact of globalisation • Future engineers are expected to know cultures and have social concern ‘entering into management and co-operative contexts with people of different educational cultural background’ - Danish Ministry of Education • Companies will look for engineers with international perspective…

  24. Intercultural Communication 2Cultural stereotypes • Western World in the eyes of Chinese : • Individualism • Free • Open and straight French: Romantic American: free German: principled British: reserved Italian: warm • What is the stereotype of Chinese in your impression?

  25. 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

  26. Cultural Factors Cognition Behavior Affect Contextual Factors Intercultural Communication 3 Theory

  27. Intercultural Communication 3 miscommunication and conflicts • Miscommunication arises • when behaviour of a person from one • culture is judged within the framework • of another culture

  28. Positive communication -Understanding cultural differences- to Learn from cultural differences Intercultural Communication 4

  29. An example of Cultural difference In concern with Student life

  30. Student Life in China 6:30 Get upin dorm 6:30-7:00 Morning Exercise

  31. 7:00 Breakfast in Canteen 7:30 – 8:00 Morning Reading

  32. 8:00 – 9:50Morning Lectures 10:10 – 12:00 Morning Lectures

  33. 14:00-16:00 Afternoon Activities Lectures Supervision Library Laboratory

  34. 16:00-18:00 Leisure time

  35. Evening Activities – study individually

  36. Exams Written form Hard tasks Scores matter Textbook knowledge based

  37. Good Good Study, Day Day Up! Study hard - high marks - diploma - good student

  38. Housing? Shopping? Cooking? New Life in Denmark Transportation?

  39. Lectures Study in Aalborg University, Denmark Practice Supervision Doing project In groups

  40. Brainstorm Presentation Doing project in groups Group meeting Life Report writing Exam Subgroup work Compromise Discussion Disagreement

  41. Spare time activities

  42. However, please note that Cultural Differences Are only one of the Reasons that Make us Different… Muslim Young girl Philosopher Animal doctor butcher farmer artist wolf

  43. Intercultural Group DiscussionReflection on your own experiences To understand and learn from cultural differences

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