Cultures mix in Canberra!

Presentation by

By Hong Sar ChannaibanyaCompanion House

@The Association of Teachers of English to

Speakers of Other Languages – ATESOL, ACT 

24 October 2009, AMEP, CIT, RIED 

Four Key Discussion Topics

Cultures and people between Australia and Burma / Myanmar in general;

Teacher and student relationships between two countries;

Don or don’t in cross cultural communication’ A learning opportunity for teacher to a new community

and its culture; Questions and comments.

How diverse are the people who live in and near Burma?

●   7 different ethnicity with Burmese majority plus other tribes;

●   Population based land and territory; ●    Use of over 21 different spoken and written

languages ●    Dressing code with owns cultural identity; ●    Mainland population and border areas based

displaced persons population; Historical conflicts between different ethnicity via

Burmese majority.

Teacher and Student Relations

●  Teacher authority is highly regards in Burma; ●  Punishment can be by cane or stick for

primary and secondary school; ●  Parents have little role with and P&C in small

towns and rural schools; ● Teachers are not well paid by the government

and instead they have to open private tuition at home for extra income;

Student sits examination as One -Off at the end of the year.

What did some  Burmese people find strange  when they first got to Australia?

●      Local dressing code, especially in summer or in the beach;

●      Kissing in public place or in the park; ●      Access to local clubs or pubs; ●      Cafe' and Restaurants style; ●      A non-never say “Hello and Smile” neighbors; ●      Cultural diversity from all countries; ●      Workplace culture and system; “Appointment Only” business model etc.

What customs are very similar in Australia and Burma?

 Work-hard attitudes;  Respect elder or senior; Understand privacy or 'family issues”; Education is the key to success etc;

What customs are completely different?

●  Family model – living together or de facto relationship;

● Money matter – saving or spending for what;

● Parenting methods; ● Teenager and their

independence; Drinking as a woman.

Schooling system in Burma

1.      Government fully funded military servants' children school in major towns;

2.     Partially funded from the government and community in small town and rural schools;

3.     Self-help funded by the community in border areas by the ethnic community with the support of INGOs;

4.     Private tuition in major towns; 5. Monastic schooling and education for rural poor

children, (Like me!)

Do or don't in cross cultural communicationWhat might offend a Burmese person?

●  Tapping over his or her forehead; (top head) ●  Walking with shoes without permission into the

house; ●  How much do you earn or do you have enough money

(even they have no single cent)? ●  Disobey the elder or senior may offended them too ●  Naming elder as direct calling name instead of using

his formal title (U, Daw for Burmese, Nai, Mi for Mon, Saw, Naw for Karen, Sayir for teacher, Uncle, Aunt if someone older than you by unknown name etc)

Asking domestic issues or private matter sometimes may offend if he or she kept it as internally matter

A learning opportunity for teacher to a new community and its culture

What is my culture? ( I mean ME) ●  Language I speak – how many and how to use it in certain

time and situations ● Food – can I eat any food unless I have medical reason? ●  Dress – how do I look if I wear it or not to wear it ●  Friend – who is my best friend and who is my worse friend? ●  Work – I enjoy working with this and that environment ●   Family – I value my family as my life foundation ●  Community – I regard my community as my living spirit to

grow Religion or faith – I observe my religion or faith for my

spiritual protection

Questions and Comments

"Common sense and education are highly compatible; in fact, neither is worth much without the other."

(Donald G. Smith) Due to the current system, education is no longer

viewed as a necessity by today’s youth in Burma. It is a dangerous sign for the future of Burma where

today’s youth is no longer value education. In a civil society, education is given the first priority as an investment for the future generation. The current

situation of Burma is leading the country to be unable to build up the civil society: