This article explores the benefits of using cross-cultural, anthropological approaches to help students understand the varying experience of aging within the United States and around the globe. Through cultural comparison and increased knowledge of the cultural context of aging standardized aspects of practice such as assessment protocols and concepts of function are critiqued, so that students will be better prepared to work as professionals with elders from diverse cultural backgrounds. A gerontology course designed to accomplish these goals is used as the focus of discussion and as an example of how such a course can be constructed.