One of the things I liked the most when I started studying online is that American instructors really want to help us achieve our goals, they are friendly and kind. The general conception is that a teacher is the source of knowledge, we have to do the things the professor says because he or she has the whole truth, and she or he has power over future. It may be a conception of a third world culture because there are so many people who have not had the opportunity to study because they have had to work and provide for their families. Unfortunately, the friendly and kind teacher who wants to help you and makes the effort to get to know you is the exception to the rule. Another thing that I love about the American teaching system is that teachers have more relationship with parents, in some cases, they visit to help students get it right. They have a program for that. In general, teachers here expect parents to approach when a child does poorly. When I was in my fourth year, I was going wrong in math. I could continue all year in this way, but my mother asked to meet with the teacher to see how she could help me.
The university here is not that different. We share some customs and others do not. This week I spoke with a teacher about the things we must do or not do if we are teaching, and she told me that there was a teacher who closed the door when the class started and that those who arrived late stayed outside. Of course, not all teachers do that, but there is a conception that if you´re late, you do not have respect for the teacher or for the rest. While Prof. Ivers was teaching, I noticed that many students entered or left the class without permission, and others were searching for something on their computers or phones. Here, these are a lack of respect, and a teacher would not overlook it. If I was in this situation, I would probably think that I am not able to engage the students, or that the students are not interested in learning. So I can make an internal or external attribution to the situation.
That´s when a teacher must take into account the differences between cultures to avoid misinterpretation and be partial in judging the student´s behavior. We all have different paradigms, and a good teacher creates an environment where those differences can coexist.
References
https://video.byui.edu/media/06+Cross-Cultural+Students+in+the+Classroom/0_r2lcaswt
TESOL Certificate 
Hi!
It’s interesting to read about some similar things. Teachers in Latvia must to make close contact with parents. Kids can’t have progress in study, just visiting the school. Parents and teachers must to work like a team. I like it.
Thanks for sharing!
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Hi. Yes, I totally agree. Teachers and parents must work together. I have heard mothers saying that the teacher has the responsability to teah children because he or she is charging for this, and teachers saying that if the parents are not willing to come and talk, they can not do anything else. It is a general conception that can vary depending on the subcultures. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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