Think back to a culture topic that's come up either in this class or another in your vast academic experience. With that in mind, what are some questions that you can pose to students that will force them to go beyond information and contemplate perspectives? For example, you've learned or it came up in a Spanish class that you are teaching that in Argentina they dance the tango, or in Spain they take naps and it's ok to be really late for some things. What are examples of questions that you can ask that can get your students to think about the perspectives behind those practices?
Friday, February 8, 2008
El porque del tango, la siesta y otros asuntos
Think back to a culture topic that's come up either in this class or another in your vast academic experience. With that in mind, what are some questions that you can pose to students that will force them to go beyond information and contemplate perspectives? For example, you've learned or it came up in a Spanish class that you are teaching that in Argentina they dance the tango, or in Spain they take naps and it's ok to be really late for some things. What are examples of questions that you can ask that can get your students to think about the perspectives behind those practices?
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I think that "why" is a really golden question. In theatre we often have to help actors understand their characters, who may be extremely different from them, and we sometimes talk about the big WHY...what is is that motivates a person, or people to do something. Sometimes "why" has to be asked several times in a row to get to the root of something, rather than just a surface answer. However, if students are harboring prejudices, or not seeing beyond stereotypes, it could be important to ask them other questions to get them thinking in the right direction. For example, "What are some other things you know about that culture than might influence the practice of taking naps?". I think that coming up with these types of questions can be difficult though, and are probably worth putting a lot of thought into...
I agree with Sarah, that "WHY?" is a good question, and that good questions take some thought. I tried to think of some others:
-If practices fill needs, how does this practice answer a need for the target community?
-What kind of need is filled? Physical? Social? Intellectual?
-How is this practice a reflection of the community's values?
-How does the practice reflect or validate family or personal identity?
What do you think?
Sarah and Sharon, I like the focus of your comments. Sarah you should really think about applying some of your theater techniques to role-plays for language and culture teaching. Sharon you have some muy insightful questions there, particularly good because they use products and practices to get to perspectives.
Sarah, specifically, what if as a concluding activity to a unit, ask students to create a role-play based on their understanding of a cultural perspective, just thinking out loud. Also the whole idea of task based teaching seems to mesh with the almost cliche question actors ask "what's your motivation?" Similar to your why question.
Well, first of all, I have to say Whoops! This was supposed to have been done a long time ago. However, I think better late than never. So, the question I would ask is, "And so?", meaning, what does this have to do with us? I think that although many things might be surprising and interesting, making something personal is the best way to learn it. I think in that way the Spanish for You activity is good because it personalizes contact with Spanish and makes it real. Hopefully that will make them take cultural interaction into their schemas and be more culturally aware.
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