Blog 2

In the reading Lieb evaluates the impact of culture distance between Japanese students and NESTs.  The research explicates that students had a significant amount of stress and anxiety learning from a Native English-speaking teacher. It was interesting to read that there might be some moral conflicts that can arise because of the cultural difference. From personal experience it was stressful learning English from a Native English speaker. But I believe that my teachers did a great job creating a culturally diverse classroom. I did not feel that the culture distance defined my interaction or learning within the class and my teacher. I did not begin to learn how to speak, read, and write English until I started Kindergarten because my parents and family’s native tongue is Spanish. I understand that the study evaluated college students and that there is a difference learning English as a child versus as an adult. But I question the comment that the social distance makes it more difficult for learners to acquire proficiency in the new language. Throughout my years in school, I was at a culture distance with various teachers because there was a significant amount of non-Hispanic teachers. I believe that my family as well as educators carry high standards or beliefs about the importance of education. Even though I may not have had the same cultural, ethnic, or religious background as my teachers we shared the belief on the importance of education. I also think that in the university level since professors have the freedom to teach their curriculum how they see is best fit. As students we stress and get anxiety at the beginning of the quarter because we do not know the instructional environment we are going into. I do strongly agree that if teachers had similarities or knowledge of their student’s cultural background it would help students achieve within a class. It seems very uncommon for Japanese students to learn from a Native English-speaking teacher, whereas in the United States it is a common thing. In the reading it explains that there was a significant amount of frustration and misunderstanding between the students and teacher because of the culture difference. I believe that the NESTs should have taken the time to research Japanese culture to have a better understanding of it and create a positive learning environment.