Teachers must consider what it means to work with students in an increasingly diverse global community. Classrooms increasingly comprise of students and teachers of different social, cultural, language, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, needing to adapt in order to accommodate for differences, both expected and unanticipated, that each individual…

In the dynamic academic landscape of the 21st century, the imperative to equip engineering students with robust critical reading skills, in tandem with their technical expertise, has come to the forefront. Recognizing the intrinsic value of critical thinking and reading in cultivating an ethos of lifelong learning among future engineers, this…

"Becoming a Scholar" provides a window into the lives of nine non-traditional doctoral students. As mature, part-time, international students enrolled in a professional doctorate programme, they reflect on the transformation process of becoming scholars, and their narratives provide breadth and depth to themes that represent a diverse…

This edited volume offers an insightful theoretical conceptualization of issues central to 21st century foreign language learning and teaching. Drawing on research results obtained in the fields of pedagogy, social psychology and sociology of education, this book provides a comprehensive practical exploration of issues experienced by researchers…

Differences in cognitive structure are approached through consideration of cartesian and non-cartesian knowing. Figuration and configuration are described as two layers of cartesian knowing leading to the third layer, the cognitive structure. Knowing in general is then discussed, with comments on learning in another culture, Botswana. (MNS)

Examines whether fourth grade students prefer band or nonband instrument timbre. Identifies differences between student preferences in the United States and Greece, examining how cultural differences influence instrumental timbre preferences. Reports that band instrument timbres often are preferred in the United States but are less so in Greece.…

Proposes a series of practical foreign-language classroom activities designed to increase cross-cultural sensitivity and to discourage stereotyping. The first exercise has the students work in small groups to design a short course for foreigners on American culture. Other exercises focus on the differences between U.S. culture and the target…

Presenting concepts and information related to global issues at an early age is important in developing an understanding of and tolerance for other cultures. Seeing other peoples' commonalities can help break down the myths and stereotypes that form around groups who are perceived as "strange" and encourage open attitudes toward new…

Finds that, among 46 Inuit and 11 White 10-16-year-old students in the Northwest Territories (Canada), Inuit students had less modern values than their white peers, but Inuit scores varied considerably both within and among the 5 value orientations examined. Contains 34 references. (SV)

Presents survey results from U.S. and Japanese high school and college students on the current state and future of the relationship between their two countries. Identifies major issues and explaining how to improve the relationship. Concludes that the students were most concerned with the development of understanding between the two cultures. (DK)

This document reports on a civics attitudes questionnaire that was piloted for the purpose of developing psychometrically sound measures of the socio-political attitudes of Japanese middle school students and climate in Japanese middle school classrooms. Studies of Japanese education have produced mixed opinions about the civic dispositions of…

Reports on a study of student academic performance among 1,314 first-year business students at a technical university in Singapore. Concludes that older students, students with prior economic course experience, male students, and ethnic Chinese students performed better than their counterparts. (CFR)

This paper describes the development and implementation of a culture-based literature program to improve the reading skills and understanding of minority cultures in students with mild disabilities. Steps in developing such a whole language approach program include: (1) identifying the cultural groups to be studied; (2) choosing both fiction and…

Reports on a study of 36 U.S. teachers and 114 teachers, administrators, and students in South Africa on their knowledge and opinions of each other's culture. Finds a low level of knowledge among U.S. teachers. Discovers that neither U.S. nor South African teachers include teaching about the South African elections in their curriculum. (CFR)

Asserts that a common problem facing educators is finding suitable pedagogical tools that capture the realities of cities in developing countries. Presents a role-playing simulation exercise that supplements and complements the case study approach to this topic. (CFR)