Culture and learning
- 1. The reading passage Culture and Learning has five paragraphs labeled AE. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings (i-x) below. Write the appropriate number (i-x): Headings a. Paragraph A ................ i. Cultural differences in writing styles ii. Primary and secondary school b. Paragraph B .................. education iii. Overseas students c. Paragraph C .................. iv. Academic writing styles v. International languages d. Paragraph D.................. vi. Variation within cultures vii. Variations in subjects taught e. Paragraph E.................. viii. Tertiary education ix. Cultural variation in learning between cultures x. Changes in the British education system Culture and Learning A Every culture has its own distinctive conventions regarding what should be learned and how learning should take place. In one culture, students may be encouraged to work with their classmates, while in another culture this activity may be prohibited. In some societies, students are discouraged from asking questions, while in others they may be required to do so. B Diversity exists not only between cultures, but also within a single culture. In Most British primary and secondary schools, for example, the teacher is the primary provider of required information, and rote learning plays an important role in the acquisition of this information. However, when these students proceed to university, they face a new set of academic norms and expectations. Although memorisation is still required, much more emphasis is placed on the critical evaluation of learning and independent research. C The analysis of writing by students from different cultures suggests that the thinking and writing process is a culture-specific phenomenon. The ability to write well in one language does not necessarily guarantee an equivalent competence in another language, irrespective of an individuals grammatical proficiency in that language. Although most researchers would argue that writing and thinking are culture-specific phenomena, considerable controversy has been aroused by attempts to provide
- 2. cognitive profiles for specific cultures. An American study which analysed the way in which students from different cultural backgrounds structured a paragraph of factual writing argued that at least five cognitive profiles could be distinguished. D It may be argued that a similar diversity of cognitive and rhetorical style also exists between academic disciplines. Although standard models for writing reports exist in both Chemistry and physics, an adequate physics report may not satisfy the requirements of the chemistry sub-culture. The departments of tertiary institutions generally publish study guides which provide detailed writing guidelines. These list the rhetorical, referencing and formatting conventions required by each discipline. Before submitting any written work, students are advised to consult appropriate guides and ensure that their written assignments conform to expectations. E There are, in short, three levels of cultural adjustment which face the overseas undergraduate student: adjustment to a different culturally based learning style; adjustments associated with the move from secondary to tertiary education; and the adjustments related to entry into a specific disciplinary sub-culture.