Communication Between Cultures

higher except for the restrictions placed on visas in the aftermath of 9/11 and other

worldwide terrorist attacks.

Increased cultural diversity in today’s classrooms presents challenges for students,

teachers, counselors, and administrative staff. In addition to the language issue, learn-

ing styles, attitude toward education, classroom deportment, and student–teacher rela-

tionships are some of the factors that vary across cultures. Educational systems that for

decades have served their communities well must now adapt to the needs of a grow-

ing, dynamic multicultural student body. It is the responsibility of schools and educa-

tors at all levels to prepare students to participate fully in the ever-evolving global

community. This requires an expanded knowledge of the role of culture in the

classroom.

Our discussion on culture and communication in the educational context is

designed to inform you on how the approach to education varies across cultures, the

different ways that students learn, and the demands of the multicultural classroom.

Before beginning that discussion, however, we will take a moment to illustrate what

and how culture teaches.

What a culture

teaches, and how it

teaches it, can provide

insight into that

culture.

Courtesy of Robert Fonseca

Benefits of Globalized Organizations 357

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