Attributional Tendancies in Cultures

 Learning about attributions in different cultures is really interesting.  I think knowing this information is really important for a TESOL teacher, especially the ideas of internal and external attribution.  I feel like a lot of the things we have studied so far about different cultures really link together.  For example, in Japan, they have a group mind-set.  This makes sense in comparison with their attributions.  When a person in Japan is successful, they attribute it externally.  They show gratitude and give credit to the group.  However, when they fail, they attribute it internally.  They have failed the group and not done their part.  I am from the United States and so have been raised in a culture that is the opposite of the Japanese when it comes to these things.  However, some of the attributions the US assigns frustrates me.  Attributing success internally and then failure externally seems really self-centered to me.  However, in my observation, it is absolutely correct of the typical American.  I think a challenge that a teacher in the United States may have is teaching (whether consciously or subconsciously) that the "American Way" is the correct way.  I really think we do a disservice to ourselves with this mentality.  When I heard of the Japanese tendency to give credit to external sources for their success, it felt very humble and gracious.  I think the United States could use a little more of that.  On the flip side, the Japanese way of self-blame could be really destructive.  Perhaps teaching them to see that sometimes there are forces beyond our control and as long as you have done your best, that is all that should really matter.  We really have so much that we can learn from one another!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Differences in Emotional Expressivity

 Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned this week was the study of the class watching a surgical procedure.  There were students who hardly seemed to react when they watched the video as a class, and yet when they watched it alone, they had the same facial expressions associated with strong emotions that others had.  Because I come from a society (the United States) that is okay with expressing emotions in public to some degree, the idea of someone reacting differently in a group vs when they are alone makes me...well, suspicious.  That may sound strange, but I have always had strong feelings about the notion that a person should always be true to themselves, no matter the situation.  This example seems to contradict that idea.  And yet, as I learn about different cultures and the things they feel are/are not socially acceptable, the more I begin to realize that I may need to fix some of my thinking.   I am naturally a very expressive person...
Read more

Personal Space Differences

My husband really values personal space.  During the holidays, we often have a lot of family over.  Typically, my three sisters, their spouses, and children all stay at our house for several days.  My family has NO SENSE of personal space.  It can be difficult at times.  However, we have learned to manage.  Sometimes my husband goes into our bedroom and shuts the door.  We all know that he is not being rude - he just needs space.  Because I know that about him, I try and respect it.  He is actually of German descent, so it was interesting to me to learn how much Germans value their space and hold it to be almost sacred. I can't help but wonder if this is something that has been passed down to him.   In a TESOL classroom, I could see a lot of miscommunications arising around what people may perceive as a violation of their personal space or property.  One culture may think it is no big deal to borrow another school supplies, whi...
Read more