TESOL: Domain 2: Understanding Cultural Differences

TESOL: Domain 2. Culture states that “Candidates know, understand, and use major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to the nature and role of culture and cultural groups to construct supportive learning environments for ELLs”( TESOL,2010).
When I was able to teach overseas, adapting and understanding the culture was an asset to my teaching experiences. I’d like to share a few experiences that required me to understand and adapt my life experiences and expectations to my teaching.
1. The lack of gender identifiers was surprising to me. The male students would use Hello Kitty pencil bags, purple glitter pencils, and “ feminized” items. The females had haircuts that we (Americans) might classify as male hairstyles. It was often difficult to distinguish gender based on appearance and classroom materials.
2. The students eat during all
The ability to have these experiences in my life help me on a daily basis to be open to a variety of beliefs, justifications, and styles of life.
Culture is mentioned almost daily in my current school environment. We are told that if it rains do not take roll/attendance for twenty minutes because it is their culture to be late to school when it rains. The noise level at my school can be deafening. It is justified by the fact that we are a Title 1 school and all “children of poverty” are loud. Clothing and language are not covered by Jefcoed Code of Conduct because we have a different culture. Is this Culture? I question the use of culture in my school as a justification for the lack of responsibility. Can you clarify culture for me?

Resource:
Standards for the Recognition of Initial TESOL Programs in ... (n.d.). Retrieved from