China vs. the United States: Comparing what teacher candidates know about each other

Authors

  • Tingting Xu Stephen F. Austin State University
  • Erik Jon Byker University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • Juan Chen Stephen F. Austin State University

Keywords:

China, the United Sates, cross-cultural awareness, global competency, teacher preparation, stereotypes about China, stereotypes about the United Sates

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to compare teacher candidates’ knowledge and perceptions about China and the United States. Using a survey research design, 91 Chinese teacher candidates and 96 teacher candidates from the United Sates participated. The survey findings indicated that while both groups of teacher candidates had a basic level of historical and political knowledge about the other country, both teacher candidate groups also had stereotypes of each other’s country. In their responses to the comment section and free response questions, though, teacher candidates focused on very different aspects. The Chinese teacher candidates were focused more on the United States’ political and education system. The United States’ teacher candidates focused their responses more on daily life and cultural aspects of China.

Author Biographies

  • Tingting Xu, Stephen F. Austin State University
    Dr. Tingting Xu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Elementary Education at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States.
  • Erik Jon Byker, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

    Assistant Professor

    Department of Reading and Elementary Education

    Dr. Erik Jon Byker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Reading and Elementary Education at the University on North Carolina at Charlotte.  He teaches courses in social studies methods and global education. Erik has a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Teaching, and Educational Policy from Michigan State University and holds a M.Ed. Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia. Erik's research is international and comparative in scope as he has conducted ethnographic field studies in England, Cuba, India, South Korea, and across the United States on how students and teachers use and construct meaning for computer technology. 

  • Juan Chen, Stephen F. Austin State University
    Juan Chen, M.Ed. is a doctoral student in the Department of Elementary Education at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States.

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Published

2016-06-29

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2016)

Section

General Refereed Papers

License

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