International Schools And Cultural Characteristics Of Children And Chinese Teaching

The TCK (third-culture kid or trans-culture kid) experience is a microcosm of what is fast becoming normal throughout the world. TCKs have incorporated different cultures on the deepest level, as to have several cultures incorporated into their thought processes, which are truly multicultural. TCKs tend to have more in common with one another, regardless of nationality, than they do with non-TCKs from their own country.The benefits of the TCK lifestyle are enormous. TCKs are often multilingual and highly accepting of other cultures. However, the TCK experience can be overwhelming sometimes. Some TCKs struggle with their identity and with the losses they have suffered in each move.International schools focus on a curriculum that immerses an individual in a rich and multicultural environment to obtain an awareness of a foreign culture through language, cultural studies, and interactive field experiences to apply the skills necessary for global citizenship and appreciation/tolerance of cultural differences. Chinese teachers should aim for consistency in reinforcing the school's fundamental values. At the same time, they are the ones who build a bridge between students'individual culture and Chinese culture. Chinese teachers should apply teaching methods which are appropriate in educating the TCK. They should guide learners through the cultural experience to develop a richer understanding of Chinese culture. Chinese teachers are culture learners themselves. They should be open-minded and willing to learn from the experiences of others in the classroom and beyond.