ABSTRACT
Various cultures have very different views on education. In some cultures, families have higher expectations of males vs. females. This can influence a student’s motivation and performance at school. Female students from cultures such as this can either show low interest in education or become torn between their traditional role in the family and the contrasting lives of their female peers from the United States. This cultural difference has a lot to do with special areas instruction. In many countries, students are divided according to gender for physical education, technology and family/consumer sciences. Females coming from the societies may feel uncomfortable being placed in co-ed learning and social situations. In many countries, the only instructional materials used in class are textbooks, pencils and notebooks. Coming into an American school with bright posters and visuals on the walls, colorful manipulatives and project supplies as well as instructional technology may be a shocking and overwhelming experience to an English Language Learners.
