Talking directly
One day I collected my writing homework from my EAP teacher. I was feeling
proud because I'd used many new academic words in my story that I'd translated
from Indonesian using a bilingual dictionary. You can understand my disappointment
when my teacher said, "I understand you tried to be brilliant but
just use your own words next time".
At first, I was in shock because of the direct way my teacher spoke to
me but after a while I understood that we have different ways of giving
critical feedback to other people. In Indonesia we avoid using direct
words because we have to look after other people's feelings. (Femmy)
From an Indonesian viewpoint, Anglo 'honesty' may seem to be very brutal.
Considering people's feelings is also important to Westerners but it's
also important to be honest and 'straight'. (Sonja)
Western Seminars - A Free for All
I was very surprised when I first attended a western style seminar. I
thought the presenter would just answer people's questions like in an
Indonesian seminar. In a seminar in Indonesia, members of the audience
challenge the speaker without involving other seminar participants. In
contrast, in a western seminar the speaker just raises the issues, answers
a few questions and then lets the audience debate the issue between themselves.
All seminar participants are encouraged to take part in the discussion
and the speaker is not the only person who can answer questions.
One similarity between Indonesian and Australian seminars is that in
both the presenter is expected to be very well prepared. One drawback
of western seminars is that because there is no often no mediator who
facilitates the discussion between participants and the presenter so it
can seem like a 'free for all'. In Indonesia there is always a facilitator
who mediates between audience and speaker. (Amirullah)
First Shock contact with a foreign teacher
I got a shock when I had my first experience of having a foreign teacher.
From my point of view our teacher talked in too direct a manner. I remember
once after our teacher had given us homework, she pointed at us in turn
and speaking loudly asked us to give our answers. I noticed that if anyone
shrank backwards she would choose him or her as the person to answer her
next question. The result was that person would become suddenly speechless
from shock and would feel embarrassed as well. For me, it was certainly
a shock experience at first but after a while I got used to it! (Fitri)
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The Devil's Advocate
Before I joined the EAP Programs at IALF Bali, I was in a discussion
forum group in Makassar. We used to discuss the social, economic or political
problems, which were faced by Indonesia. One of my friends always acted
as the opponent and never agreed with anyone else's opinion. We always
had to argue with him and sometimes it was hard to control our emotions
when we disagreed. Several years later, I become an ADS student and studied
cross culture. Now, I know that what my friend did -acting as the 'opponent'-is
a part of building up critical thinking in Western academic culture. In
fact my friend often said that he tried to look for wisdom using dialectic
philosophy. (Ana)
You are right Ana, debate style discussion is at the core of Western
academic culture and we even have a special name for the role your friend
played in discussions-the 'Devil's advocate'. The devil's advocate is
often the seminar facilitator and their role is to challenge the other
seminar participants to debate more skillfully by presenting the counter
arguments, regardless of whether they themselves agree with them or not!
(Sonja)
Overcoming my "Speaking up in a seminar"
Shyness
Participating in Postgraduate Research Seminars as soon as I arrived
in Australia was very useful for me to get oriented into others student's
research projects.
The funny thing was that even with my English proficiency and confidence,
I still found it difficult to start speaking up during the seminars. I
felt so "small" because I'd just enrolled and had not even started
doing my research, while the others were at the mid or even last stages
in their PhDs! Naturally, I was afraid I'd ask "stupid" questions,
especially because these seminars are a regular event and I didn't know
how far the previous discussions had gone. I also didn't really know the
"rules of the game" as yet. At one point I was struggling inside
because I felt that I had a valid question but was afraid to ask. Then
I remembered that in a western style seminar we are all "experts".
As the IAP teachers here in Australia told us, "There are no stupid
questions, just stupid answers". Finally, the moderator noticed my
hesitation and pushed me to let it out by saying "Brahm has something
to say". And then it happened. I asked the question, everybody listened
attentively, and I regained my confidence. From that point on, nobody
can stop me from participating in a discussion!
(Brahm)
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