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Title:
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DIALECTICAL TENSIONS IN INTERCULTURAL CLASSROOMS: WHEN DIFFERENCES MEET |
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Author(s):
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Jiraporn Kerdchoochuen |
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ISBN:
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978-972-8939-32-8 |
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Editors:
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Heling Huai, Piet Kommers and Pedro Isaías |
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Year:
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2010 |
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Edition:
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Single |
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Keywords:
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Dialectics, dialectical tension, intercultural classroom, native English-speaking teacher, Thai student |
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Type:
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Full Paper |
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First Page:
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12 |
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Last Page:
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19 |
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Language:
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English |
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Cover:
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Full Contents:
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click to dowload 
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Paper Abstract:
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An intercultural classroom is a place where teachers and students from different nationalities and cultures meet and interact. When teachers and students with different values and expectations communicate, they tend to create misunderstanding and tensions which affect their learning and relationships. This study explores the dialectical tensions native English-speaking teachers have with Thai students in an intercultural classroom in Thailand. The data are gained from in-depth interviews with 20 native English-speaking teachers and lengthy classroom observations at 4 universities. The study indicates that native English-speaking teachers encountered 8 dialectical tensions: stability/change, openness/closedness, separation/connection, active/passive, hierarchy/equality, resentment/affinity, impartiality/favoritism, and formality/informality. The study also reveals that all dialectical tensions found in intercultural classrooms are interrelated: One dialectics cannot be isolated from other contradictions. |
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