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@Stoppit: You're right about the university part, I mean there's hundreds of students in one class, how can we expect the lecturer to know us personally... but even at the school level, there is always a barrier between the teacher and the student, that doesn't seem to exist between pakistani teachers and students.
It could be a good thing or a bad thing... depends on what way one looks at it.
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This is very true. In my undergraduate university there were over 35 thousand students at the school. And most classes had between 400 -500 students. But that is what office hours are great for. If you go in frequently, they WILL get to know u ...especially since in all honesty - how many students make the effort to take the extra time to go into office hours???? And especially not just for help on something...but to ask advice and such. Hardly any. So one that does this - does stand out to that particular professor.
You are also forgetting that British culture is a lot more reserved. Most teachers don't want that frankness with students and prefer to keep their personal lives to themselves.
very interesting point stoppit... i totally forgot about that. Makes complete sense though.
The barrier is there for a reason... we have Child Protection laws in the U.K. Im guessing those laws (amongst others) are pretty much non existent in Pakistan.
I have had the experience of attending a high school in Pakistan, albiet I was there for only a day, but the class Miss as she was known, did nothiing but bark at her students all day. They feared her. Heck I nearly wet myself, she went around hitting the girls who were chattiing with rulers. This was in 1990 though. Im sure they dont do that now.
My kids are only 5 and 6, however, they are anything but petrified of me. We have a laugh together when appropriate and I respect them as much as they respect me. I dont have the 'authoritarian' approach to teaching. I see myself as a facilitator of learning.
As for personal relationships with children, well the folk at GTTR claim it is highly inappropriate to form a relationshiop with the pupils you teach outside of school. Back in the 70's it was ok, but in this day and age, not going to happen. You could lose your job. At my school my kids arent even allowed to know my first name or how old I am! Oh and facebook, we have been told not to have a facebook or any other social networking account. A few male teachers from secondary school have gotten into a LOT of trouble due to facebook.
PunjabiRose: I've seen this kinda relationship among many pakistanis... even my nana abu (ok I know that's old times) talked about his teachers with so much love and respect.
I'm not complaining about the western teachers... as I said before, I'm very friendly with a lot of them... never had a problem with a teacher... but never became too frank to invite them to my family parties either...
And they haven't contributed to my personality.. I am who I am because of my own experiences... they didn't really shape my personality...
ughh this is quite a deep topic guys I'm sorry if I can't explain myself properly... there's various aspects to this...
Sahar: Its great to hear that! Didn't think they would add a teacher to their facebook, its brilliant :)
The barrier is there for a reason... we have Child Protection laws in the U.K. Im guessing those laws (amongst others) are pretty much non existent in Pakistan.
I have had the experience of attending a high school in Pakistan, albiet I was there for only a day, but the class Miss as she was known, did nothiing but bark at her students all day. They feared her. Heck I nearly wet myself, she went around hitting the girls who were chattiing with rulers. This was in 1990 though. Im sure they dont do that now.
My kids are only 5 and 6, however, they are anything but petrified of me. We have a laugh together when appropriate and I respect them as much as they respect me. I dont have the 'authoritarian' approach to teaching. I see myself as a facilitator of learning.
This is what I mentioned in my first post... teachers in pakistan beat the crap out of children ... why so much frankness then?? Why are Pakistani students more close to their teachers than we are.
Reserved is the word I was looking for.. western culture is more reserved.... I mean in Pakistan we would become best buddies with out colleagues, but over here, they just remain "people whom u work with"...
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western culture is more reserved.... I mean in Pakistan we would become best buddies with out colleagues, but over here, they just remain "people whom u work with"...
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I dont think all western culture is... i mean.. American's are known to be pretty frank. lol. In the work situation especially, it is extremely normal and common for people to become buddy buddies with your colleagues. I see this everywhere ....
Even tho I live in one of the more "reserved and snobbier" states.... its still probably way more frank and casual as opposed to certain European countries such the UK.
Maybees no one has invited you to go out with them. I always socialise with my work friends and so does everyone else I know. I have attended weddings of colleauges and even been invited to their childrens christenings.
The reason for close relationships with teachers in Pakistan might be due to the fact that they are probably related to them somehow. Some 'chacha's, next door neighbours, pakora wala's neices daughter in law's brothers wife' business.
^ I have even noticed that superiors here have no problem becomign buddy buddies with those below them. The examples are surrounding me. My fiance has not only the best of relationships with all of his work colleagues (they are constanlty hanging out outside of work) but also a wonderful relationship with his boss. His boss is always taking him out for dinner and such. Same with my roomate...she JUST started working and her boss has no problem taking his workers out for dinner and hanging out with them outside of the office.
My parents are the same with the people that work for them. My dad is a physician and my mom is the office manager. They have a wonderful relationship with everyone that they work with. They invite them over for parties at their homes... my parents do the same. Gifts are always exchanged at the appropriate occassions, etc.
But again- I think this is more so based on people themselves. But the people themselves here are for the most part really easy going and frank in my opinion. And if you are as well - u have no problem developing wonderful relationships no matter what situation u are in (work & school).
Even as a student at uni I used to meet my personal tutor for lunch all the time. She used to call me up after I had left to see how I was doing and to this day has always offered to be one of my references for job applications.
I dont think all western culture is... i mean.. American's are known to be pretty frank. lol. In the work situation especially, it is extremely normal and common for people to become buddy buddies with your colleagues. I see this everywhere ....
Even tho I live in one of the more "reserved and snobbier" states.... its still probably way more frank and casual as opposed to certain European countries such the UK.
Really?
hmmm interesting... I don't know anyone from US (only one of my distant cousins lives in NY,) so yeah I don't really know much about US.
Uk however, is pretty much like Ireland so I can relate to it better.
No matter what u say guys, things are more reserved and more formal in the west than they are in the east.... and may be this professionalism is what we are lacking in the developing countries? I know Pakistan could do with a bit of professionalism big time.. lol!
Education in west is way more "commercial". Even in Pakistan, in many "business" oriented institutes, there is really no bond/relationship b/w students and teachers. In many cases they dont even know them by name.
I taught in one of the private university in Karachi before moving to USA to earn some $$$ and believe me I will not identify any of my student today (some pretty girls are exception to it :D )
hmmm interesting... I don't know anyone from US (only one of my distant cousins lives in NY,) so yeah I don't really know much about US.
Uk however, is pretty much like Ireland so I can relate to it better.
No matter what u say guys, things are more reserved and more formal in the west than they are in the east.... and may be this professionalism is what we are lacking in the developing countries? I know Pakistan could do with a bit of professionalism big time.. lol!
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So you basically want to believe what you believe. The point of the thread was?
So you basically want to believe what you believe. The point of the thread was?
No Milly, I'm just stating the facts. Are relationships not more formal in the west???
Even a child/parent relationship is.
Ofcourse, I know there are exceptions... but generally speaking, there is always a barrier between two different people, who are not related to each other by any means... and I've seen this "barrier" even between parents and their children in Ireland.
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No Milly, I'm just stating the facts. Are relationships not more formal in the west???
Even a child/parent relationship is.
Ofcourse, I know there are exceptions... but generally speaking, there is always a barrier between two different people, who are not related to each other by any means... and I've seen this "barrier" even between parents and their children in Ireland.
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and female teachers from pinds are more into makeup than teaching