Cultural sensitivity in the TEFL classroom

It might sound obvious, but one of the most important things you can do as a teacher is respect your students. Fostering positive relationships with your English learners is imperative - it means they listen to you, you’re attuned to their needs and motivations, and you’re more likely to have positive outcomes. 

A massive part of that is being sensitive to different cultures. Respecting the values and beliefs of your students is extremely important, as is respecting the customs of a given location and culture. Why are we talking about this, and why does it matter in a TEFL context? Well, it’s simple - when you take up a career in teaching English as a foreign language, you’re likely to either teach English abroad or work with students from all kinds of different backgrounds, whether it’s in your own community, online, overseas or in any other scenario.

The ability to embrace diversity and different cultures is a crucial part of becoming a successful TEFL teacher. So, let’s discuss what cultural sensitivity means in a TEFL context and why it’s so important.

Cultural sensitivity: what it means

You might’ve noticed that we’ve touched on cultural differences between nations. For example, there are important cultural conventions to remember in Japan , Spain , Vietnam and other popular TEFL destinations. Taking note of these conventions is an example of cultural sensitivity; noting what matters to people from certain parts of the world is crucial in establishing positive relationships, fitting into a new culture and, as a teacher, showing the appropriate level of respect to where you are and the people you’re teaching.

If you’re teaching English abroad , cultural sensitivity is about adjusting to and respecting the differences in other cultures. Normally, this means language, gestures or customs, everything from your tone of voice to how you use your hands, the way you act at the dinner table, and so on.

It’s not just about you. A society that’s culturally sensitive at large is more empathetic and appreciative of the people within it. As this particular definition of cultural sensitivity from study.com puts it:

“A culturally sensitive society promotes empathetic connectivity through the appreciation and understanding of another person's background and way of life. By valuing diversity, people will be able to play to their strengths within a society.”

Why does cultural sensitivity matter to TEFL teachers?

This all seems fair enough, but if it’s unclear why this matters to TEFL teachers in particular, then let’s be clear: you are teaching English as a foreign language! When you teach English at this level, you’ll meet people from outside of your own experience. Ideally, the people you meet will be accommodating to you and your background. As a teacher (and global citizen!), you have a responsibility to be curious and sensitive to other people’s experiences, values and culture.

It’s both common courtesy and crucial to understanding your students. Again, let’s be entirely clear - the people you teach will be different to you. If you move abroad, or you teach online to students from around the world, you’ll be teaching people who have different experiences of the world. Especially if you teach abroad, other people’s cultures will become your own. That’s part of the incredible excitement attached to teaching English abroad.

Doing the homework

With the best will in the world, nobody knows everything about every culture. It’d be naïve to expect yourself to know all about each person’s background. So, what are the best ways to become culturally aware and get to know your students better?

It’s simple: do the homework. You don’t have to travel, although being able to visit your local library helps. Read non-fiction. YouTube exists, and there are millions of amazing podcasts (you can hear about TEFL teachers immersing themselves in cultures on our podcast, ‘ I Taught English Abroad ’!). Go on Google, ask questions. Read about religions, customs, and parts of the world you’ve never been to. Travel the globe from the comfort of your own home.

If you want to teach somewhere specific, there’s really no excuse for arriving ignorant. In the information age, you can find out all about how to greet people, you can learn languages on your phone, and there are guides to everything you might need. Just do the homework.

Cultural sensitivity in the classroom

So how do you practice cultural sensitivity? It’s not a case of walking around your classroom and telling your students “Yes, I know all about that” whenever they say anything, surprisingly enough. 

Instead, when you give lessons, use materials that are relevant to your students - their experiences, their culture and so on. Obviously, to provide a rounded worldview, it’s worth remembering to expose your students to different kinds of media and lessons from around the world, but if you’re teaching students from a particular part of the world, give them material that’s relevant to their lives.

You also want to encourage an environment where students can share their perspectives. We’ve talked before about debate in the classroom , but to a far less dramatic extent, it’s always a good idea to foster discussion. If you teach classes, it’s incredibly unlikely that all of your students will have the same kind of upbringing. It’s important they find common ground and are able to talk about their lives, their cultures and their values. Let your students learn from each other.

Celebrate different festivals/holidays!

One of the best ways to celebrate different cultures in the classroom is through festivals and holidays. Whether it’s the Lunar New Year , Christmas , Diwali, Eid, Passover or any number of significant festivals, there’s the opportunity for students to share important lessons.

In English, you can get your students talking about holidays and festivals. If it’s a celebration that your students aren’t inherently familiar with, they can give presentations on what it means and why it’s celebrated. If it’s a festival that all of your class celebrate, they can talk about what they like most. 

In more advanced classes, with older students, you can discuss the more complex meaning of festivals and holidays. The potential for vocabulary extension, conversational practice and self-directed learning are all vast!

Cultural sensitivity matters

The simple fact is that if you want to be a top-class TEFL teacher, you should be curious about other cultures, respect the places you teach, care about your students' backgrounds, and want to know more about the world. 

Caring about your students means caring about where they’re from and where they want to go. You don’t have to be their biographer, but understanding who they are as people is important in knowing their motivations, what their learning outcomes ought to be, and where English will take them.

Adapting as a teacher - and a person - to new people and surroundings is one of the most exciting things about teaching English as a foreign language. When you explore the world and the depths of your potential, do it with kindness, tolerance and enthusiasm, making you welcome everywhere you go.

Can’t wait to begin your TEFL adventure? Employers around the world recognise 120 hours of TEFL certification as the industry standard - so that’s a good place to start!