Manners and Cultures

27 October 2020

Week 07: Difference in Manners

Have you ever done something that someone looked at you weird for? How about something that is normal as walking with your hands in your pockets? Each culture has different manners that are normal or abnormal.

Working in an ESL classroom may help you to see more of these differences. There are differences such as blowing your nose, where you put your hands on the table, or how to greet someone that are very different. Americans have a very independent cultural which allows them to have a bigger personal bubble then other cultures. Americans will sit apart from other students where as some Asian cultures will sit right next to you even if there are plenty of other seats.

If differences in culture begin to be a problem between students it would be wise to address these differences. It would also be wise to discuss why other cultures do what they do if at all possible. This would help students to be able to recognize why students act or say what they do.

Because of a change in culture when learning a new language, it is important to discuss someone of these differences with your students to help student feel as though they fit in more or don’t get offended from what others may say or do.