Nonverbal communication and culture. Identity, stereotypes and prejudices, страница 62

Because Chinese culture is distinctively collectivist, Chinese education emphasizes the goals of the group of society, fosters in-group belonging, demands cooperation and interdependence, and pursues harmony. The Chinese always stress moral education over intellectual and physical education. Confucian tradition holds that teachers should not only teach knowledge but also cultivate in students a strong sense of moral and righteous conduct. Chinese teachers, consequently, hold a position of moral authority and instruct students in the culture's moral rules of conduct.

The Japanese educational system is characterized by a high degree of uniformity. The Monbusho, a centralized ministry of education, science, and culture, controls Japanese education. Curriculum standards are specified in a national course of study. Generally speaking, students throughout Japan in the same grade study essentially the same material in virtually the same kind of classroom at approximately the same time and pace.

The Japanese curriculum emphasizes social studies, democratic political processes, and religious tolerance. The Japanese are highly collectivist. This strong collective value is aptly expressed in the Japanese proverb that states "A single arrow is easily broken, but not in a bunch." Like the Chinese, Japanese students are taught cooperation, harmony, and interdependence. The Japanese strongly believe that proper social behavior is absolutely essential to social harmony; it is considered the bedrock of Japanese morality. Proper social behavior, therefore, is something that all students can and must attain and is paramount in the Japanese educational system.

Although reading, writing, and mathematics are emphasized in Japan, oral language is not. Educators in Japanese schools do not overtly concern themselves with oral language development in the curriculum. Furthermore, even when it is one's prerogative to speak, simple and brief remarks are valued over lengthy or pointed statements. Traditional fairy tales concerning "The Monkey and the Crab" show the smooth-talking crab to be quite a disreputable character. Japanese will point out that their nation has never produced a great orator or even a notable historical speech.

As you can see from the examples we have discussed, cultures tend to teach what is deemed essential for it to continue from generation to generation. In many cases there are close similarities in the areas of science and mathematics. But, in other areas such as history and philosophy, and social values, there may be extensive differences in what is taught because of diverse cultural perspectives.

How Cultures Teach

As we have seen, being familiar with what a culture teaches can give you knowledge about that culture. But, knowing how the culture teaches is just as important because it (1) provides you with an insight into the nature of the culture, (2) helps you understand interpersonal relationships between students and between students and teachers, and (3) gives you a familiarity with the importance a culture places on education.

Inasmuch as cultures vary in what they emphasize, you should not be surprised to learn that there is cultural diversity in how students participate in the learning process. How education proceeds in a culture is tied directly to the values and characteristics of the culture. In some cultures, teachers talk or lecture a great deal of the time, whereas in others students do most of the talking. Silence and minimal vocal participation characterize some classrooms, whereas others tend to be noisy and active. In many cultures, students recite and then write down what their teacher has said rather than using individual textbooks. Also, the authority vested in the teacher varies from culture to culture. Even nonverbal aspects such as space, distance, time, and dress codes are cultural variables in the classroom.