Margaret Lieb Article Reflection

Culture Distance an Cultural Dimensions in Diverse ELT Environments by Margaret Lieb was a great read. Usually I read Scholarly Articles and I am not interested in the subject. However, I found this article intriguing and easy to read. I think this is due to the subject of the article. This article is about the teaching of English in Japan and the cultural effects of it. In this article I find many of Lieb's points interesting. For example, Lieb speaks on the rapid increase in intercultural communications and population. Coming from a community with a large population of Mexicans this is something that is familiar to me. Both of my parents were born in Mexico and then immigrated here to live out the "American Dream". The population of the town I am from is still mostly white. However, as the years go by the amount of different cultures and ethnicity's is growing exponentially. In Japan I can imagine that it is the same. Except, Japan is a country where they tried for years to keep it strictly Japanese culture there. Not only is there the English Language Teachers moving there to teach, but there are also immigrants from neighboring countries. For example, there may be people in neighboring countries like Russia and South Korea that are not happy with their situation. These people could immigrate to Japan in hopes of a better situation. It does not have to be a neighboring country either it could be anywhere just like in the United States. It is easy to see why what Margaret Lieb is speaking on is happening so rapidly.

Personally, teaching English in a foreign country is something I would be interested. Obviously, I am an English Ed Major which is my first priority. Yet, maybe years from now after I have spent some time teaching ELA I will move somewhere and teach the English language in a foreign country. I would most likely teach English in a primarily Spanish speaking country. Spanish is my first language which would facilitate the teaching process considering I can speak their native language.