FLTA Orientation Program
2012
Cross-Cultural Understanding
ANDREA KEVECH, MA
CONNIE RYLANCE, MA
ENGLISH FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS
LANGUAGE CENTER
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Agenda
1. Introductions
2. Identifying values and playing by the
3.
4.
5.
6.
rules
Tips for Living with Americans
Political Humor
Problem Situations and Roleplays
Wrap up
Identifying Social Values
FRIENDLINESS
 Where: In offices, restaurants, supermarkets…
 With whom: Students, colleagues, advisors, and
passers-by
 How: Show friendliness on the fly.
Play by the Rules!
Nonverbal
 Make direct eye contact.
 Smile!
 Wave to acquaintances on campus.
 Give a firm handshake when introduced.
Identifying Social Values
Verbal
 Greet acquaintances and passers-by with “Hi” or “Hey.”
 Get used to using first names.
 Use colloquial greetings.
Hey, how’s it goin’?/How you doin’?
Hey, not bad/pretty good/great!
What’s up? (sup)
Not much/What’s up? (sup)
Identifying Social Values
Situation
Anna has been trying to set up her computer and
settle into her office before classes start. It hasn’t
been easy. As she heads to yet another orientation
meeting, Anna happens to run into her advisor/head
instructor whom she has met with previously.
What comments do you have about this interaction?
Identifying Social Values
So, what’s behind the friendliness?
Identifying Social Values
So, what’s behind the friendliness?
 Acknowledges the individual.
Identifying Social Values
What does friendliness mean?
 Acknowledges the individual.
 Shows willingness to be open to friendship.
Identifying Social Values
What does friendliness mean?
 Acknowledges the individual.
 Shows willingness to be open to friendship.
 Does not extend to a committed friendship.
Identifying Social Values
Situation
Following the department orientation for TAs, you find
yourself sharing pizza and talking with two US
graduate students—all of you have just met. Very
quickly, the conversation has turned to the romantic
relationships of the two Americans.
What comments do you have about their interaction?
Identifying Social Values
Directness
Americans tend to be direct, straightforward.
“Don’t beat around the bush.”
“Get to the point!”
BUT…
Identifying Social Values
EMAIL from TA to Supervising Instructor
Hi Susan,
I’ve learned so much from our meetings! Your comments
are always very precious to me. Now I’m preparing my grad
school application, and your comments will be very helpful.
Attached please find my statement of purpose. The deadline
is in two days, so I must get your corrections/comments by
tomorrow night.
By the way, I hope you can write a letter of recommendation
for me as well. Thanks! 
Aly
Identifying Social Values
Play by the Rules!
 Identify the appropriate person to handle your requests.

I need XXX. Who would be the best person to ask?
 Keep the other person’s workload in mind.

I realize that you may not have time, but could you…?
 Consider the timing of your request.
Identifying Social Values
 Ask, don’t demand—avoid imperatives.
Please edit this for me Would you be able to give me
some comments on this?
 Use modals.
Please edit this for me Could you, would you be able
to…?
 Give a way out.
I need it by tomorrow I know you’re busy, so I
understand if you don’t have time.
Identifying Social Values
Revised Email
Hi Susan,
I’ve been working on grad school applications--this is a
very different process in my country, so I hope I’m on the
right track. If you have time for a quick look in the next two
days, I’d love to get your feedback on my one-page statement
of purpose. Of course I understand if the timing is bad for
you, but if you have time for a look, it’s attached.
I also need to think about my recommendation letters,
though they aren’t due for a couple of weeks. Would you be
willing to write one for me? I’d be very appreciative!
Many thanks,
Aly
Tips for Living with Americans
Excerpted from “Twelve Rules for Living with
Americans”
1. Shower every day, whether you need it or not. Use
soap, deodorant, and your own towel. Wear clean
clothes everyday. Less is more when it comes to
scented products.
Tips for Living with Americans
Supermarket Display
Tips for Living with Americans
2. Don’t assume ANYTHING about a North American. They
are proud to claim diverse ethnicity and value
individuality.
3. Politics are not “off limits.” Americans love to “diss” the
government. The President in particular, is “fair game.”
You probably shouldn’t join in in the dissing, but you can
laugh along.
Identifying More Values
Your turn!
1. Come up with one or two values you believe are
characteristic of North Americans that could impact
your life in the classroom or on campus.
2. Extrapolate the rule for social appropriateness.
Political Humor
http://textsfromhillaryclinton.tumblr.com
Political Humor
http://textsfromhillaryclinton.tumblr.com
Political Humor
http://textsfromhillaryclinton.tumblr.com
Political Humor
http://bobbiblogger.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/president-obama
Political Humor
George W. Bush and Condi Rice Conversation
Problem Situations
1. Read the situations and decide on your response.
2. Compare your answers with those of your partner.
Reconsider your answer if necessary.
3. Be ready to share how you would enact your choice
for each situation. In other words, you and your
partner will be asked to ROLEPLAY the situation
using your answer.
SITUATION 1
You misplaced your computer cable for projecting from your
laptop. Your office mate readily lent you his. The next week
you realize you must have a cable for your class, but you still
haven’t found yours. His cable is lying right on top of his desk.
What do you do?
a. Take his cable. He didn’t mind before, so it should be fine.
b. Risk being a little late to your class so that you can go to the
department office to see if they have one to spare.
c. Your supervisor has said, “Don’t hesitate to ask me for help
on anything.” Text your supervisor asking what you should
do.
d. Other
SITUATION 2
At midterm, you meet with the FLTA supervisor to get feedback. You’re looking
forward to this meeting because you feel that you have been thorough in your
teaching and diligent in keeping up with the very full curriculum, though
sometimes at the expense of having to miss a few office hours and some teacher
meetings. Much to your surprise, the supervisor says, “We’re going to put you
on probation because you’re not fulfilling the terms of your contract. You’re
missing office hours, coming to our meetings unprepared, and not submitting
required reports on time.
a. Clearly there has been a misunderstanding. Defend and justify your hardworking performance.
b. Apologize and say you’ll try to do better for the rest of the year.
c. Accept the criticism as stated. Open a discussion to clarify expectations and
criteria for future performance evaluations.
d. Other
SITUATION 3
During a departmental social gathering, you hit it off with a
colleague with whom you seem to have a lot it common. Before
leaving, your new colleague says, “We should get together for coffee
or lunch. How about I email you sometime next week?” Two weeks
pass without a message. On your way back from class, you see this
colleague who gives a friendly wave and smile.
a. Pretend you didn’t notice.
b. Return the wave and keep walking.
c. Approach your colleague and politely ask when the coffee or lunch
will take place.
d. Approach your colleague and say that you’d like to get together for
coffee or lunch and set a time.
e. Other
SITUATION 4
You share an office with several colleagues; all of you have posted office
hours to avoid crowding. However, one of your fellow instructors
enjoys drop-in office hours, which the students regularly use, in
addition to the posted hours. The extra office traffic and conversation is
becoming increasingly distracting and disturbing. Your other
officemates don’t seem to be bothered.
a. Be indirect: re-post a larger office hour schedule and hope it does the
trick.
b. Talk about the problem to your other colleagues and try to get them on
your side.
c. Talk with your colleague privately and explain that you can’t get your
work done.
d. Other
SITUATION 5
One of your students has come to your office to ask for a re-grading of
a quiz. According to her, she deserves 4 additional points, which
would move her from a C+ to a B. You have the authority to change
the grade, but you’re not convinced that her work deserves the four
points. The student becomes very insistent, explaining that her
midterm GPA is under scrutiny and her financial aid could be in
jeopardy. She has to discuss grades with her advisor the next day.
a. Four points is not a big deal; it’s only a quiz. Give in and get her out of
your office.
b. Outright refuse to re-grade the test because you would need to re-grade
everyone’s to be fair. After all, it’s only four points and only a quiz.
c. Listen sympathetically but do not deviate from the policy as stated on
the class syllabus.
d. Listen sympathetically. Inform the student you will talk with the head
instructor and will email the final decision within 48 hours.
Situation 6
One of your students has been a hard worker all term and does well on
vocabulary, grammar and writing. Despite your efforts, she has been
unable to improve her nearly unintelligible pronunciation. Even her
classmates cringe when she speaks. The final exam includes an oral
interview in which pronunciation is scored along with fluency. You
know this will lower her grade. When you ask how she’s been
preparing for the final, she confidently says, “Oh, I think the interview
will be easy.” How do you respond?
a. “I’m glad you feel ready. Remember to speak slowly and do your best.”
b. “I’m glad you feel ready. But I must remind you that your
pronunciation has been as issue throughout the term. So you should
know that it will be hard to get an A on the final. For example, you’ve
never mastered the … or the … and you completely miss the ….”
c. Other
SITUATION 7
You and your roommates get along well and until recently ran the
household smoothly. Now it’s midterms with a much busier schedule
for everyone. You realize that much of the cleaning, cooking and
shopping has fallen on you. You didn’t mind at first, but are now
feeling exploited and finding it hard to work in disorganization.
You’ve tried hinting that you’d like some help and that you are also
very busy, but have been met with comments like, “Oh, but you’re so
good at this stuff, and I’m not,” or “A little mess never hurt anyone;
we’ll get around to cleaning up eventually.” What do you do?
a. Complain bitterly to your other friends and suffer in silence with your
roommates. Spend as much time as possible out of your apartment.
b. Announce that you refuse to be the maid any longer and that you are
requesting a new housing assignment.
c. Get everyone together to discuss the issue.
d. Post a work schedule on which you have assigned everyone equal
responsibilities. Use it as a tracking device.
e. Other
SITUATION 8
In the middle of a grammatical explanation, a student
questions one of your examples. The question is a complex
one that you hadn’t anticipated and you have no ready answer.
You also feel that the student is challenging you. What do you
do?
a. Refer student to office hours and move on.
b. Insist on the validity of your example. You don’t want to
spend more time on this anyway.
c. Acknowledge that the student’s point is well taken. Say that
you will think about the best answer for the next class.
d. Ask other students how they would respond to the question.
e. Other
Situation 9
It’s the first day of your class. You’ve arrived early and are watching
your students file in. You are unpleasantly surprised at their
appearance and behavior. Despite the NO FOOD OR DRINKS sign,
many students are entering with coffee and snacks. Some of the
women seem barely dressed, and one young man has his feet on the
chair in front of him. What do you do?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Begin the class by setting out your expectations of classroom
behavior.
Set your feelings aside and proceed with class.
Talk to some of the worst offenders after class.
Other
Wrap-Up
 Keep an open mind.
 Ask questions—”No such thing as a stupid question!”
 Share your own values with your students and
colleagues.
Wrap-Up
And most importantly, …
Keep a sense of humor! Be ready to laugh at yourself.
Keep Laughing!