Learning in a New Culture Learning in an Intercultural Context Lars Peter and Xiangyun Du xiangyun@plan.aau.dk October 19th, 2004

Agenda 8:15 – 9:10 Presentation by Xiangyun - My story – learning in a new culture as a foreign student - Reflection on cultural background - Intercultural communication 9:10 – 11:00 Intercultural group discussion and preparation for poster presentation 11:00 – 12:00 Poster presentation

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

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

I want to learn new things! 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

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

Difficulties in Getting In the New Learning Culture –With Lectures I expected to get more ‘knowledge’ (facts) from teachers I expected to get ‘right’ answers from teachers I expected teachers to talk more and be the hero in class I was not used to be asked about my opinion in public I dropped the head unconsciously when the teachers were asking questions and expecting response To rethink the culturally situated meaning of knowledge and to be open to another way of learning

Problems in Project Work -With Supervision We shifted the topic in order to draw the interest of the supervisor Supervisor sometimes could not remember our progress in the project I expected to have more inputs from supervisor at the beginning Supervisor only provide questions rather than direct answers – ‘What do you think?’ ‘Why?’ ‘How?’ It is your BABY! It is the students’ role to be active and take the responsibility of the project.

Problems in Project Work -With Group Work misunderstanding arising from saying something we don’t actually mean (language use) different values on ‘good manners’ (‘Yes’ to be polite) different norms on human relations (social status/genders) different attitudes towards success and failure different ways of conducting discussions and arguments (one-way meeting, order for speaking) different ways of learning (learning styles) Cooperation is very important to get the project done! – To understand, negotiate, and compromise.

Am I stupid? Am I different? Why?

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

Learning in a new culture New country Learning in a new culture New study form New Environment

Learning Environment in China Teacher-centred with focus on lectures Fixed contents as obligation Loyalty and obedience to authority (teachers and textbooks) is highly essential (‘One day a teacher, Father for the whole life’) To be fed up with fish rather than be taught to fish Big class – little discussion Principles and regulations to follow Learning by heart Scores and ranks-based assessment - motivation Marks are the only way of evaluating students ranks in the exam are the standard for ‘good’ student

Learning Environment in China How do Chinese Learn Learning Environment in China Students are expected to - Learn what and how rather than why - Learn knowledge (facts) transferred from teachers - Follow up superiors’ experiences and suggestions - Obey disciplines and rules - To study diligently by repetition and memorizing 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

Learning Environment in Denmark in My Eyes student-centred, involving sufficient cooperative group work and varied teaching methods contents are presented in a meaningful context learning by doing smaller classes warmer class climate more ways of assessment than multiple choice- centred exams assessment is conducted in less threatening ways

Things I Did Learn in the New Culture - My Strategies to ‘Survive’ To be open - to understand and see things in a new way - to share some common understanding To be active - to catch chances rather than wait passively - to explain and clarify myself - ‘By saying this, I mean…’ ‘Am I clear in this way?’ ‘Is this understandable?’ To be patient - to understand others’ point before getting offended ‘do you mean… by saying this?’ - to think from other’s perspective - to ask myself ‘why they do it in this way?’ rather than just complaining ‘how can they do it in this way!’ To ask ‘stupid’ questions – There are NO stupid questions!

How do you understand culture and cultural difference?

Cultural Differences 1 - Different ways of doing the same thing

– different strengths and weakness Cultural differences 2 – different strengths and weakness Example: Secret plan for harmonising EU 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

Intercultural Communication 1 Impact of globalisation Future engineers are expected to know cultures and have social concern Engineering teams will be multi-national, diverse in terms of language, culture, and geographically distributed Companies will look for engineers with international perspective, who are able to conduct business globally, and deal with diverse business cultures and government regulations

Intercultural Communication 2 Cultural 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?

Intercultural Communication 2 Cultural 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

Intercultural Communication 3 Theory Cultural Factors Contextual Factors Cognition Affect Behavior

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

Intercultural Communication 4 - Understanding cultural differences - Learning from cultural differences To provoke learning in an Intercultural context, it is Important to achieve positive communication

An example of Cultural difference In concern with Student life

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

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

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

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

16:00-18:00 Leisure time

Evening Activities – study individually

Exams Written form Hard tasks Textbook knowledge based Scores matter

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

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

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

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

Spare time activities

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

Intercultural Group Discussion Reflection on your own experiences To understand and learn from cultural differences