I always hesitated to answer that kind question. Teacher’s responsibility is more than parents, for teachers role is n:1 while parents probably are 2:1. In addition, I truly believe that what I am teaching will present who I am. Teaching is not merely planting the knowledge, but also with the personality and characteristics. If I don’t know who I am, I won’t be sure whether I can teach or not.
The ID map is necessary for all teachers, just to know themselves before starting this career. Even though the ID map is always changing, but as we grow up, the ID map will be less important than the beginning.
The ICE berg is quite interesting. Culture is not only what it’s about the river, but more over, most part is under the water, limited by the behavior and product of the people or patterns in people’s life. The hidden part is the shared beliefs, feelings and values of a community of people.
Picture of iceberg. by Ralph Clevenger, 1999
Adapted from Gary Weaver & On line resource
The iceberg won’t remain the same – like the ID map I drew when I was in China is different from the map here. The map I drew the first time came to Hawaii is not the same like the map I drew it now.
I just read an article from Paul Hiebert about the culture shock. It’s quite true. The culture shock is a sense of cultural disorientation in a different society. In time, a person learns to operate in a new society; his level of adjustment rises; and he is acculturated into the new culture (See Figure 2.7, Paul Hiebert, http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert ). In the process, he becomes a bicultural person, who has come to grips with the issues of cultural parochialism and relativism.
(Christianity is supraculture and not a foreign religion – will be discussed in the another entry. It’s an interesting topic)
- All these for one purpose:
1. Know ourselves -> because teaching = telling who you are
2. Be sensitivity for students’ culture background and slow down the judgment.
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