| Before you set out for that holiday or | | | | would need to be handled carefully. From the |
| business trip to the South East Asian region, | | | | students perspective, they firstly would not |
| be aware that there are some cultural issues | | | | want to appear slow or inattentive, and may |
| that may impact on your experience. None of | | | | have an issue in asking for a clarification |
| these are frightening or off-putting in a big | | | | in the class environment. Also, as they would |
| way, just good to know about and expect. | | | | hold their teacher in high esteem, they would |
| Forewarned is forearmed as they say. | | | | definitely not want to allude that they |
| | | | lacked the skills to explain things clearly. |
| Probably the most discussed cultural issue in | | | | From the teachers perspective, they may find |
| the bulk of South East Asian countries is the | | | | it difficult to accept a student expressing |
| concept of face. Face, and not losing it, is | | | | confusion in the classroom. |
| an issue we do not place a great deal of | | | | |
| importance on in the west, but be prepared | | | | So in these countries, the student may well |
| for it in this part of the world. | | | | hold their tongue and either ask a fellow |
| | | | student, or seek to speak to their teacher in |
| So what does this saving face mean? It means | | | | private later. |
| that when people deal with each other there | | | | |
| is a greatly heightened awareness and | | | | Another issue on this region that visitors |
| priority on avoiding a perception of | | | | may come across is etiquette at religious |
| embarrassment or humiliation. This applies to | | | | places. The term for a temple in Buddhist |
| you and to the other parties involved. An | | | | countries such as Thailand and Cambodia is |
| example would be a conversation between a | | | | Wat. When visiting a Wat, be sure to dress |
| student and their teacher. The teacher | | | | conservatively. There is no need to be |
| explains a process, and the student does not | | | | formal, but please do not go in beach clothes |
| understand. In the west this would not be a | | | | or your short disco dress! Additionally, you |
| very big deal at all. The student would be | | | | will inevitably see a collection of shoes at |
| happy to, (and in fact be expected to), alert | | | | the door. This is simply as the correct |
| the teacher that they did not understand, and | | | | etiquette is to take your footwear off before |
| ask for it to be explained in a different | | | | entering. So if you are planning a day of |
| way. | | | | serious temple visiting, a good tip is not to |
| | | | wear lace up shoes. You will find yourself |
| In the South East Asian countries of say | | | | exhausted by the end of the day if you do. |
| Thailand or Indonesia, this type of situation | | | | |