The objectives of this study were: (i) to compare the scores on the test between students who took a Chinese Traditional Culture course (including ancient fairy tales, traditional festivals, and ancient etiquette) and students who did not, (ii) to examine students' performance on the traditional culture after taking the Chinese Traditional Culture…

This review of the literature on incorporating culture into English language teaching aims not only to revisit the need for intercultural awareness, which focuses on understanding the differences between cultures and appreciating them, but also to highlight the importance of foregrounding and endorsing similarities and commonalities, which can be…

From early in their learning experience, foreign language (FL) learners at American universities explore socio-cultural connotations that, it is argued, are signified by FL words. Textbook authors and teachers follow an implicit canon of difference, a list of iconic words that over time--and without the benefit of empirical evidence--have come to…

This study explored the expectations that Moroccan native speakers (n = 57) and beginning-level learners of Arabic (n = 38) held of one another regarding conformity to Moroccan cultural norms. Questionnaires and interviews were used to unpack two assumptions that shape pedagogical practices: (1) that native speakers (NSs) expect nonnative speakers…

Intercultural learning requires reflection; education abroad scholars and practitioners hold this belief to be self-evident. Becoming more aware of both others' and one's own culture requires intentional reflection, often facilitated by an expert. However, the practice of guided reflection rests upon the precarious assumption that learners can be…

This case illustrates why school leaders must be culturally proficient to serve all students and lead effectively. I discuss one case in Ohio that is representative of many other American schools. In particular, I examine the cultural challenges educational leaders must commonly face. This case encourages administrators to participate in…

This study was undertaken to obtain descriptive information about teachers' perceptions of effective classroom management within an inner-city middle school. Thirteen teachers in one such school in Tennessee were interviewed about their classroom management behaviors. Teachers appeared to have an elaborate system of beliefs related to the themes…