Cultural Learning Differences

Cultures tend to be associated with specific languages (e.g., students in the United States are educated in English; students in Germany speak German; students in Hong Kong SAR are educated in Chinese or in English).

• Cultural Language Trend
• Cultural Bias 
• Cultural Disruption
• Cultural Hate 

However, individuals who speak the specific language of their country may use forms different than the standard acceptable at school. For example, ________________ English is a dialect of English, with its own consistent pronunciations, syntax, and figures of speech.
Dialects are not "bad" or "substandard" speech, but many people in mainstream culture continue to believe that speakers of the language "standard" are smarter or better educated.

• Hispanic American
• Asian American
• African-American
• German American

_____________ are not "bad" or "substandard" speech, but many people in mainstream culture continue to believe that speakers of the language "standard" are smarter or better educated.

• Accents
• Dialects
• Silence
• Patwa

Some cultures are more ________________ of — and in fact even encourage — interruptions and overlap while others are speaking, rather than waiting for the current speaker to end his or her turn. Others learn that waiting for a speaker to finish is a sign of respect.

• Impatient
• indignant 
• tolerant 
• docile

In many cultures, children are expected to ask and answer questions as part of learning, but for some (e.g., some ____________________and some ___________________), asking questions is inappropriate and even rude.

• African American and Hispanic American
• Mexican American and Native American
• Polish American and Arab American
• Swedish American and Nigerian American

Furthermore, although American teachers and parents often ask children questions for which they know the answers (e.g., "And how old are you?" "So what does the first paragraph say?"),
n some cultures, children are not asked this type of question.
In other cultures, children are taught not to answer questions about _______________________ (e.g., "What does your father do?")

• cultural things
• money
• personal things
• school

Children from these cultures value cooperation and interdependence and may prefer and excel at group activities,

• Asian and Indian Americans
• African and Swedish Americans 
• Native and Hispanic Americans
• Arab and Jewish Americans 

Students from cultures emphasizing  __________________may have more difficulty with group work but excel at individual seatwork.

• competition 
• harmony
• silence
• cooperative learning

In some cultures, for example, speaking frequently or without being asked is seen as a sign of low intelligence or immaturity. For example, children in some ________________________ countries are taught to speak only when addressed.

• Nigerian 
• South Africa
• European
• Southeast Asia

 In mainstream ____________________ culture, casual conversation is expected and used as a form of affiliation.

• Nigerian 
• South Africa
• American
• Southeast Asia