[Teaching_Composition] Discomfort and instructor perspectives

[Elizabeth Vander Lei]

In my experience this is a mixed bag: in the same ESL writing classroom I would
encounter students who were highly deferential and students who were conflicted
between defering to my status as a professor and disregarding me because my
gender is female. The mixed-bag-ness of the people in a classroom, of the power
relations in the classroom, of the desires of those in the classroom make all
this tricky business.

Elizabeth Vander Lei
Associate Professor of English
Calvin College
1795 Knollcrest Circle SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4404
616.526.6434

>>> The Teach <ababion@siue.edu> 9/20/2006 10:28 PM >>>
> seriously and as important for learning. Many students can handle 
> themselves with respect to other students when the environment is 
> supportive. The role of the teacher is crucial here.
I agree. Anytime a level of discomfort occurs during discussion, the 
instructor must model behavior and encourage mutual respect.

> I teach first-year composition to ESL students. Many of my students' 
> cultures believe that to disagree with an instructor is to show great 
> disrespect to the instructor. If I voice my opinion, their cultures 
> restrain them from further exploration of issues.

Of course it depends upon the particular culture, but also I suggest the 
gender of the teacher can be a factor. I have been told by female 
instructors teaching ESL classes that they are challenged as the authority 
figure and that the students do not want to accept what the female 
instructor offers in a discussion.

It does not occur with all nationalities, but is something that I have 
been told more than once by the female ESL teachers.

What think ye?

alex
_______________________________________________
Teaching_Composition maillist  -  Teaching_Composition@mailman.eppg.com 
http://mailman.eppg.com/mailman/listinfo/teaching_composition 

To unsubscribe, please visit
http://mailman.eppg.com/mailman/listinfo/teaching_composition and update
your information.