| Connecting Internationally |
Today classroom teachers are charged with educating their students
for a global world—and with good reason! Countries around the globe
are collaborating more than ever; you may be meeting colleagues and
making friends at international conferences; and you can easily connect
with other educators online, by phone, or through travel programs
that expand your understanding of education throughout the world. |
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EF Tours has been the leader in educational travel for over 40 years by taking students abroad to encounter new cultures and languages first hand. EF is the first and only accredited international tour company and strives to break down the barriers of language, culture and geography. EF Educational Tours allows educators to enrich their classroom through international travel. |
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Start an International Chapter |
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| The world is definitively getting smaller. Diverse student populations are common in most classrooms across the United States today. Many professional conferences are attended by individuals from different cultures. So, whether you are communicating with parents from different countries or presenting to an international audience, understanding the social protocol of diverse cultures can help you to build understanding and ensure that your audience understands your message. Here are some tips that will help. |
| • | Learn about names. If you will be referring to individuals by name, be sure that you can correctly pronounce their names. In many cultures it is appropriate to use people’s first and last names when addressing them. If you are unsure about whether to use a person’s first name, it is better to err on the side of being more formal and refer to the individual as Mr. or Mrs., or to use his or her professional title, such a principal or professor, than to appear too casual. The United States is one of the few countries where individuals refer to unfamiliar individuals using their first name only. |
| • | Remember that date formats vary. When you correspond with non-Americans or prepare a PowerPoint® presentation for a diverse audience, you will need to use caution when including dates. If you post dates that list the month first, others may be confused—or worse, miss an event. In the United States, the date protocol is to list the month first, then the day, and then the year; but this is the case in few other countries. For example, if you refer to the start of the academic year as 9/8/2009, that means September 8, correct? Not if you are in Germany, Brazil, or the Middle East where they put the day first, followed by the month, and the year. So, for individuals in these countries, 9/8/2009 means August 9, 2009. In China and Hong Kong, the year is listed first, followed by the month and the day! |
| • | Be careful with gestures. Americans often use gestures to make a point or to communicate approval, such as “thumbs up.” Such gestures can communicate the wrong message in some cultures. A “thumbs up” can not only be interpreted as rude in the Middle East but also is considered obscene in parts of Africa and has multiple meanings in Japan. Another gesture to watch: When you are presenting from a podium, refrain from pointing your finger, which is often used to reinforce an idea or to imply that members of the audience need to take certain actions. This gesture can have varied meanings as well and it may not be received by your audience in the way you intend it to be. Additional gestures that have alternative meanings in other cultures include the “A-OK” gesture, beckoning someone by curling your finger upwards (which is how animals are summoned in many cultures), and even a firm handshake (some cultures frown on publicly touching the opposite sex). In person-to-person communication, the meaning of direct eye contact and customs about sitting and rising also contribute to the way others understand your intentions and message. In general, refrain from using gestures and be discreet with your body language until you have a chance to observe others in the culture using them. It’s a good idea to follow your host’s lead. |
People around the world have different customs and ways of communicating. When you are in the limelight, you can avoid a potentially embarrassing communication mistake by observing those around you and following their examples. Respecting local customs will help you to build credibility and ensure that your message is understood, which will contribute to your professional success. |
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| Part of being globally friendly involves
making the effort to connect with others in their own language. When
you are working with an educator in another country—whether you’re
hosting an event, writing an e-mail message, or preparing a presentation—why
not make the effort to speak the language? It’s a gesture of goodwill
and keeps you learning. Here are a few basic salutations from languages
around the world. |
French salutations |
