The definition of culture is the sum of attitudes, customs, and beliefs that distinguishes one group of people from another. The culture can be transmitted and carried through our language, visual media, written books, schools, and art, from one generation to another. The US is considered as one of the most diverse countries because it consists of many diverse cultures. There are some popular cultures that affect the educational system in schools. Here I'm going to talk about some cultural tendencies that impact way we participate in education. Also, I'll give some examples of my own and my kids' experiences and expectations when we first came to the US.
As a student, I was expecting that I should work independently during the class as I used to, but when I came here I was asked to work with peers and have group projects. Here, providing assistance when needed is expected from me, while in my country, helping others is considered cheating. Also, the participation style is different here in US schools, where students are usually active in classroom discussion and have to be engaged with the teacher and with classmates as well. In contrast, Saudi students tend to be quiet, good listeners and only answer the questions when the teacher asks. Seriously, I don't remember any class discussion that happened during my study in Saudi Arabia.
Regarding the role of parents in education, in our culture we rely on the teacher's expertise in providing academic guidance to our kids. As students' parents our job is assisting them doing their homework, helping them in memorizing the new lessons for the day after in order to ensure their participation, and lastly, reviewing for the exams. In comparison, American parents are involved in their kids' academic progress. Moreover, they are more actively involved in their children's classroom and you see them always visible as a volunteer, assisting the teacher in any school events.
In conclusion, we shouldn't deny the big impact of culture on our lifestyles and education. The stories we watch in movies, TV shows, the songs we hear, the art we see and the stories we read all reflect the educational system in our schools. Not only do they tell us about the environment of the school, but also they describe the teachers and students images and roles on our schools. Thus, all teachers should understand these cultural differences so they don't make unfair judgments regarding the others' cultural values and behaviors.
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