TESOL 103

  We are coming up on the 10th anniversary of a tragedy in our extended family.  This young man, Barton Sherwood, suffered from schizophrenia. Because of this mental illness, he ended his own life.   Barton was a very talented musician and received multiple awards and commendations for his accomplishments.  He served a two-year mission in Argentina for the LDS church.  Schizophrenia and other mental illnesses are chemical imbalances in the brain.  These illnesses are often linked back to our genetics.  Studies show that schizophrenia decreases more quickly in some cultures than it does in other cultures.  I find this really interesting.  Why is this?  Does it run more strongly in some cultures, or just the cure? What is it for my country? Brother John Ivers, in his lesson on culture and psychology, discusses this subject briefly.    Culture and Psychology He mentions that " Some cultures, the schizophrenic is cur...

       The world is made up of many different cultures.  These cultures have many differences, some of which have to do with manners.  Learning about different cultures I have found that what may be normal to one culture may be considered rude to another culture.  What may be offensive in one culture may be completely acceptable in another culture.  When we become aware of these culture differences, we can  avoid hurt feelings, embarrassment, and even arguments.        Growing up in America, I was taught manners.  This is, what good manners are considered to my parents and my culture.  If I were to burp at the dinner table, my parents would be upset with me and tell me that was bad manners.  However, in  In China, Taiwan, and much of the Far East, belching is considered a compliment to the chef and a sign that you have eaten well and enjoyed your meal. As a kid, I watched the movie  Shrek ....

          My husband, James, could spend all day out on the tractor, with the cows, or hiking through the forest.  He could go all day without speaking to another human being.  When he gets home and I start talking to him, he gives one word answers.  I would think that he would be happy to have someone to talk to and communicate with, but I often get one word answers.   This is my friend Alicia and I. Alicia can speak 100 words per minute and can go all day long talking.  When she comes to visit, she tries to start up a conversation with James.  She has learned that he doesn't have a whole lot to say, but that if she can talk about something he is interested in, then James will have a lot more to say. Over the years, she has found that if she talks about hunting, looking for antlers, cows, gardening or history, then their conversation will be a lot less one sided as she gets James to open up.     Some studen...

       Attributional tendencies are what people think about what caused an event or behavior.  It could be or own behavior or an event that happened to us, or we could see it happen to someone else or witness their behavior.  We then attribute that behavior or event to something. Attributional tendencies can be broken down into 2 classifications: internal and external.  Attributing something internal would be to place "blame" or "fault" on the subject.  Attributing something externally would be to find "fault" elsewhere.  The word fault may not be the best word because attributional tendencies happen for both positive and negative circumstances.       Americans tend to attribute personal  successes internally and personal failure externally.  But when we (Americans) see someone else experience something, we view their successes externally and their failures internally.  This sounds so accurate, but it also s...

  This quick little video shows the panoramic view from my back porch.  If I were to go take a video from my front porch (and there wasn't a mountain in the way), you would not be able to see any houses or sign of civilization.  How do you think I would feel if I were to ride that subway in Japan?   Well, I can tell you how I would feel.  I would not like it one bit.  When I was 20 years old, I went to live in Russia to teach English to children.  When I arrived at the airport in Moscow, I had to go through customs before I could leave the airport.  There were hundreds of people trying to do the same thing as me.  There first thing I noticed is that there didn't seem to be a line.  People were just there, and more people kept coming.  After watching and getting no closer to the front where I needed to be, I decided I needed a plan.  I would have to forget about being polite and waiting for my turn and push my way closer an...

  This is the dome in Round Valley in Eagar AZ Home of the Round Valley ELKS! It is the first dome in the United States for high school sporting events. Sports in Round Valley are one on the many things that bring this community together.  I have watched high school kids play soccer, football, volleyball, and basketball.  I have coached track in this indoor facility, I have refed volleyball games in this dome.  I have watched my children play sports, play in the band, and many other activities in this dome.  I have even heard and seen a prophet of the Lord, President Dallin H. Oaks, speak in this dome.  Latter Day Saints came from all over the mountain to come hear him speak.   When I am away from home and I see someone wearing a Round Valley Elks hoodie, I instantly feel a connection to them. I start up a conversation with them. If they need anything, I will help them.  I may even say "Go Elks!" as we part! As our community got ready to host...

       I always thought that differences in emotional expressivity were more of a difference in personality than a culture difference.  Even in my own family we express our emotions very differently.  I never looked at this idea of it being a culture difference.  Listening to Brother Iver's lecture on these expressions in emotions being different to culture, I can see that that can certainly make a difference.       My husband and I have 2 kids.  In public, we are viewed as a very calm family, very relaxed and low emotional expressivity.  However, when we are at home, things are quite different.  My husband and one son are still all those things.  They are low key, down to earth, and calm.  Our other son and I are much more intense at home.  We are feisty, we show our emotions, and we are not quiet about it.  Because of this, I have felt that emotional expressivity has to do with our personalities....

 Miscommunications can happen anywhere, any time.  For me, I don't even realize that it is a miscommunication until later.  In the moment, it is very frustrating because 2 people don't see eye to eye.  They often want to explain themselves, get angry, or give up and cut out that person, refusing to deal with them.  In even extreme cases, a miscommunication can end in death.  There is a book by Stephen R. Covey that is called 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  One of those habits is to seek understanding before being understood. This can go a long way to avoid and dissolve misunderstandings.     Add an entire new culture to the mix and you end up with even more misunderstandings.  Cultures are so different, that even a simple thing can turn into a misunderstanding.  A teacher with many backgrounds and cultures in their classroom will surely encounter misunderstandings.  It may be between 2 students, a parent and teacher,...

Watch this fun little video I created for this post.  https://youtu.be/vn4UA43JD68  It was May of 2002.  Levy had proposed to Katie and wedding plans were under way.  As the big day arrived, guests were also arriving.  The invitation had requested that "guest's be in their seat by 3pm, ceremony to start at 3:30 pm. By 4 pm, the guests were starting to get worried.  Where were they? Was there an accident?  Did Levy get cold feet? This was the wedding of my sister and her future husband, Levy.  You see, Levy is from Brazil.  He is everything you can imagine about Brazil all rolled into my brother in law.  I happened to know Levy from high school.  He was always very loud, the center of the party, knew everyone, friends with everyone in our high school of 2500 people.  Along with Levy's friendly personality came the polychronic culture paradigm that being on time wasn't nearly as important as the person standing right in front of ...

  What is a paradigm?       Have you ever visited a new country and felt completely out of place? Then you have probably experienced culture paradigm.  Different cultures view things in different ways.  What is funny to one group of people may not be funny to another group of people.  Imagine sitting in a public place where you are a newcomer to this culture.  You can tell that something you are or are not doing is just not right here, but you have no idea what the problem could be.  Are you sitting in the wrong area, is your dress inappropriate, is there toilet paper hanging out of your pants?  Who knows what the reason, but you just feel embarrassed by something and you are not sure why.        Culture creates false problems and false needs.  When one culture views something in one way and another culture views it in a different way, there is a culture difference.  This can create problems that a...