Get YOUR Class To Participate In A Culture Share

Guy Courchesne over at This Guy is Teaching Abroad is at the center of a cross-cultural exchange.

A few days ago he received an unexpected package, which, despite living in this day and age of heightened security, he went ahead and opened. Inside he found a collection of artifacts from some middle school students in the Midwest. Their purpose was to “spread cultural diffusion by sending positive traits of culture” for a Social Studies project. The objects included two small US flags, a foam football (”"because it represents our daily life. Nearly every American plays some sport at some point in their life.”), a Dirks Bentley CD, and a picture of Siva (”(the Hindu god)… because we believe in Freedom of religion”). They end with a request to “please share your culture with us if you’d like.” Check out Guy’s own account and pictures at his blog.

The omnipresence of the Internet has pros and cons, but this looks like an excellent opportunity to use it to promote genuine cultural exchange. If you are interested in getting your class involved by sending some “positive traits of culture” to the US, or would like to arrange something between your students and those in another country, post what you will here on the TEFL Logue, on Guy Courchesne’s blog, or in the thread specific to this topic at Dave’s ESL Cafe. Then send pictures when you get your artifacts!