What is meant by high and low context cultures? What are proxemics? How is this important requisite knowlege for the pre-teacher or beginning teacher?

As a beginning teacher it is important to understand the high and low context cultures in the classroom. Understanding these cultures would make it clear on how to handle a diverse classroom. For example if a student is from a home that has high context culture they could share their strong family ties with classmates and have a lasting friendship with some of them. As with the low context culture, classmates are more up front with communicating their views. The only thing with a high context student is that he/she might implement strong bonds on being distinctive in groups, which might lead to others feeling like an outcast. Even though low context cultures are flexible being in and out of groups, they are weak when it comes to commitment. Non-verbal communications is found amongst high context culture such as proxemics, where an individual have different perspective on how to maintain personal space, and this type of communication can sometimes lead to misunderstanding. A teacher will have to know how to handle this, so not to over step boundaries when dealing with parents or students of different cultures. Learning personal proxemics is very important; teachers can educate their students on personal, social, and public space of different cultures, so they are not judgmental on their peer’s behavior. The arrangements in the classroom can determined the teacher’s social space from the students.For example if a classroom is arranged where the desks are in rows, facing the teacher, this type of arrangement command all work and no play, and less participation with isolation. But, if the desks were place in a circular setting, this will show interaction likely to occur with more participation from the students and cooperative work. Proxemic can have negative and positive effects on students in the classroom, especially if it is a student who is antisocial. Some student’s social perceptions are viewed differently based on their culture. Sometimes a student, teacher personal space is infringed upon, which is lead to believe that they are not a nice person or could be antisocial. Proxemics can be mastered if taught skillfully, such as communicating with eye contact, facial expression, and body language. Overall communication is more at ease, when among the same context of culture.