'360' Newsletter

Ramin Yazdanpanah, Ph.D. | April 5, 2024

A resource for students and teachers, a quote to inspire, and a question to ponder. It really is the little things we do consistently that lead to great outcomes.

Cultures of communication: Speaking

Pragmatics is the study of how we interpret and communicate meaning through language. For example, how language is affected by the situation in which it is used, how language is used to get things or perform actions, and how words can express things that are different from what they appear to mean (Cambridge, 2024).

 

Having a clear understanding of the cultural expectations of communication is a critical dimension of pragmatics. This is true in our native language and is especially important when learning and teaching other languages.

 

The following video of the Intercultural, Pragmatic, and Interactional Competence (IPIC) model is a useful framework for understanding how to develop pragmatics in and out of the classroom.

Cultures of communication: Writing

Writing Across Borders is a classic two-part documentary that I keep coming back to and sharing year after year. The video might appear a bit dated but the student and teacher stories are timeless and extremely insightful.

 

"Writing Across Borders is a film for anyone who works with international students in a writing environment. Its purpose is not to provide easy answers but rather to consider day-to-day practices in new ways. Through interviews with students and professionals in the field, the film encourages us to ask the following questions: How does culture play out in writing, and how are our expectations shaped by cultural preferences? How do we assess international student writing when we have to grade it alongside the writing of native speakers? And how can we think about surface errors in a fair and constructive manner? What kinds of teaching and testing practices disadvantage international students and which help them improve as writers?"

Quote

"I've made it a principle not to be over-influenced by minor disappointments."


― Marianne Moore, poet

Question

What are your expectations of teaching and learning and how are they different from those you teach and learn from?

Until next week,

Ramin aka "Dr. Yaz"

 

p.s. Congratulations to the 2024 National (USA) Teacher of the Year, Missy Testerman! Read about how Missy helps English learners adapt in rural Appalachia.

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