Cross-cultural Understanding: ELT Professionals' Cultural Sense-making Process

Abstract

Cross-cultural understanding is required for all ELT professionals to teach English asa global language. The current research explores ways to enhance mutualunderstanding, particularly focusing on Korean and non-Korean ELT professionals, asmaor agents to ensure educational quality. ! qualitati"e method is adopted, andreflecti"e practice in a written format is chosen as a way of collecting data. #undredsof critical incidents regarding cultural clashes were collected from both Korean andnon-Korean teachers$administrators to find out what common issues and themesappeared in their classroom$wor%place settings. &inally, '( entries were selected tomeet the established criteria) substantial context and quality of lesson. !ccording toan analysis from the perspecti"es of two authors *Korean + non-Korean, a maorityof cultural clashes in"ol"ed a few %ey categories such as)  hierarchical demandsrelated to age and gender / power of the boss$super"isor o"er staff and 0 need for flexibility and clear communication on all le"els and from all sta%eholders. &i"eexample cases were used to "isuali1e the sense-ma%ing process that ELTprofessionals could find most enlightening. The research findings will ideally helpenhance mutual understanding between Korean and non-Korean teachers$leaders toimpro"e educational quality in general in the Korean ELT context.