I came across an article in a Training & Development Magazine. It is written by Sean O’Tool who works with Australia’s largest employer of Aboriginal people and it is about understanding the difference between traditional culture learning and mainstream western culture learning. He received a Churchill Scholarship to investigate best practices of teaching indigenous people in New Zealand, Canada and USA.
Indigenous people around the world share many common learning styles which can be in conflict with the way most of our teaching is done in western culture where we use the expert-novice model. Those of us who work with many ethnicities, know that not every body learns the same way and unless we look at providing a variety of learning options, teaching staff to provide the care the way we expect them to will result in varying results. “A common learning style for indigenous people is to see a demonstration and go away and practice privately until they master the skill” he says. How many times do we actually nurture or respect this way of learning?
In the article there is a comparative table of the learning styles of indigenous and non-indigenous people. It was developed by the Aboriginal Human Resource Council of Canada (2007). I hope you find it interesting
| TRADITIONAL CULTURE | MAINSTREAM WESTERN CULTURE |
| Community is the foremost of all values | Individualism is the foremost value |
| The future tense is dominant | Tradition of printing and literacy |
| The world is understood mythically | The present is the dominant tense |
| Goals are met with patience | The world is understood scientifically |
| Ownership is often communal | Goals are met with aggressive effort |
| Gifts are regarded as social glue | Ownership is reward for hard work |
| Work is often motivated by group need | Gifts are regarded as holiday issues |
| Aging is a source of wisdom | Work is motivated by ambition |
| Eye contact is thought over-assertive | Aging is decay and loss |
| Silences are acceptable anywhere | Eye contact is part of conversation |
| Assertiveness is non-communal | Silences are a waste of time |
| Listening skills are prized | Assertiveness is a basic social skill |
| Soft spoken words carry farthest | Communication skills are prized |
| Nodding signifies understanding | Emphasis carries the day |
| Handshake is soft, signalling no threat | Nodding signifies agreement |
| Collective decisions are consensual | Handshake is firm, assertive |
| A faith in harmony with nature | Collective decisions are put to a vote |
| Family is extended family | A faith in scientific control of nature |
| Responds to praise of the group | Family is nuclear family |
| Responds to praise of the individual |