Week 6: Response to Differences in Emotional Expresivity

2/11/19

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Emotional expressivity is one of the things that can be an easy misunderstanding and can cause conflict between people. For example, Hispanic culture is more tolerant to show affection in Public than the Middle East cultures. As an ESL or ELL teachers, we need to consider the different cultural emotions expressivity of our students to create an appropriate environment. Professor Ivers said: Emotional expressivity is one of the things that are more easily misunderstood than many other things in cross-cultural differences. It's very, very easy to interpret different ranges—to misinterpret different ranges of emotional expressivity. 
In some cultures shake a hand is important when we said hi to someone. For example: In Spain, people kiss in both cheeks someone to say hi or you meet it for the first time but maybe in other cultures could  consider this offensive. 

As teachers, we need to consider that what you may consider funny others may not. In fact, jokes that are hilarious in your culture may offend people from another culture. We also need to remember that culture implies beliefs, behaviors, objects and other characteristics shared by groups of people. Culture demonstrated the way community ideas, thinks, and practices. For example in China, it is acceptable to stare at others in public or to stand very close to others in public spaces. It can be very different from other countries where personal space is very important. 

What we can do in our multicultural classroom:

• Avoid assumptions, jokes which are misunderstood
• Use symbols, diagrams pictures.
• Avoid using slang and idioms, choosing words that will convey only the most specific denotative meaning.
• Investigate your student's culture perception.
• Talk openly about cultural differences.
• Be sure your audience is understanding the difference between cultures
• Find relevant cultural facts.