Cross-Cultural Awareness
As a bicultural institution, the John F. Kennedy School, presents a very special challenge for all teachers coming from other countries. The school expects American teachers to be models of their culture for our Mexican and international community. A dual function is required of them: behave like Americans while teaching their regular English classes; while being able to interact normally in the Mexican community with parents and while taking part in social situations.
You come to this new school with an advantage in the sense that North American teachers do not have to speak a foreign language to communicate in most school situations. They do not feel like complete outsiders while at work. The disadvantage is that they are not immersed completely in the new culture which reduces possibilities of cultural awareness.
We have discovered that these special circumstances are not at all difficult for the newcomers-if they decide to socialize with the local people. With increasing cross-cultural and self-awareness comes an increased ability to evaluate ones own culture in a new frame of reference, yet maintaining cultural identity.
We do not expect North Americans to think like Mexicans or vise-versa; we expect them to become bicultural. If teachers do not understand the meaning of biculturalism they can not instill it in their students within the classroom.
Biculturalism is more an attitude than a set of prescribed behaviors. We want to welcome you to this exciting life of experiential learning - a two way experience for all of us. Our school could not reflect bicultural learning without people like you who want to share their experience and knowledge with children, colleagues, parents and the community in general.
The aim of this introduction to our school is to help you develop sensitivity to cues in your new environment. We do not expect you to become a specialist in relation to the Mexican culture overnight, but to become a cross- culturally flexible person; who can understand and deal comfortably and effectively with people from different cultures.
This is an invitation to establish a positive mental attitude that will help you become an active learner during your stay in Mexico. An invitation to develop personal relationships with the people you meet; achieving cultural awareness not merely at the intellectual level, but at the affective level as well.