Teaching and Learning across Cultures

“I loved this book. In a globalized world where most subject-matter experts consider themselves capable of teaching anywhere in the world, the book is urgently needed. The easy reading style with hundreds of personal examples makes the book helpful in dozens of situations. The book is useful for an American youth pastor leading a short-term team to teach Vacation Bible School in Mexico or a Singaporean businessperson making a sales pitch in Japan. The book is useful for the practitioner and the academician. The frequent reference to research studies and the expansive bibliography make the book a valuable textbook and resource for doctoral students. Ott brings not only solid academic credentials but also years of practical experience in global teaching. This excellent book combines a highly qualified author with a most urgently needed subject matter.”—James E. Plueddemann, retired professor, Wheaton College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; author of Teaching across Cultures

“The most comprehensive treatment of this subject from a Christian perspective that I have yet seen: an excellent in-depth examination of the issues facing cross-cultural workers. The chapters describing the use of traditional methods like stories, songs, and proverbs, and the one on teaching and learning online are by themselves worth the price of the book.”—Judith Lingenfelter, coauthor of Teaching Cross-Culturally
“This book, written for Christian cross-cultural educators, is filled with valuable insights from forty years of experience, giving readers a map to navigate cultural differences and strategies to both understand and bridge cultural divides in the classroom. Analyzing cognitive, social, spiritual, and contextual dimensions in cross-cultural classroom encounters, the author provides both broad approaches and specific pedagogical applications that Christian workers should consider to help students thrive.”—Mary Shepard Wong, interim associate dean, professor, and director of TESOL field-based programs, Azusa Pacific University
“Craig Ott has provided a valuable service to all intercultural teachers by drawing upon his broad experience as well as current research. This work provides a wealth of insight into critical concerns for teaching in a culture other than your own, written in a style that is very accessible for intercultural teachers at all levels. This is a wonderful resource that I plan to refer to again and again.”—W. Jay Moon, professor of church planting and evangelism, Asbury Theological Seminary
“Teaching and Learning across Cultures is a timely book. Ott is a missiologically informed and experienced cross-cultural teacher. He presents case after case of actual experiences, both his own as well as that of others from diverse cultures. The book is further strengthened by presenting the essence of cross-cultural teaching and learning using five dimensions of culture’s influence—acting as pillars to which are hung various cross-cultural teaching theories. I recommend this book in that it will benefit not only educators from the West but also the recipients at the other end. Educators and missionaries from both the West and the East, not excluding those who are in higher education in general, will surely benefit from reading this book.”—David Tai Woong Lee, director, Global Leadership Focus, Korea; former chairman of WEA Mission Commission
“This book is supremely needed. Ott’s treatment is careful, comprehensive, critical, and current in addressing the subject of teaching and learning. The book is well-written and backed by rigorous study. I am amazed at how easily accessible it is to the reader and packed with numerous relevant and practical illustrations from different contexts. All of these attributes make this book a helpful guide for cross-cultural teachers. This book is not written from the perspective of the West for the rest. The author draws insight from around the globe. Though written from a Christian perspective and primarily for teachers from the West in cross-cultural contexts, the insights in the book will benefit all teachers. I recommend this book enthusiastically to anyone who takes education seriously and wants to do it effectively in the twenty-first century. It is filled with gems of wisdom that will serve the teacher well.”—Bulus Galadima, former dean, Cook School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University