Bridging Belief Gaps in ELT Teacher Education in Cross-cultural
Settings by Qing Gu Cortazzi and Jin (1996) introduce the notion
of culture of learning to explain the difference in behaviour in
language classrooms. They maintain that a culture of learning
has its roots in the educational and, more broadly, cultural
traditions of the society, and that the 'Western and Chinese
cultures of learning sometimes weave past each other without
linking' (1996: 10). The way to establish a bridge between the
different cultures is through dialogue. Kennedy (1987: 167)
argues that the success of change programmes is likely to rest
on the extent to which any different attitudes to language
teaching and learning can be openly discussed In a cross-
cultural setting, the recognition of shared views between the
expatriate teacher trainer and the indigenous teacher may serve
as the starting point for ELT professionals from different
cultures to begin to establish mutual understanding and a
collaborative working environment. Failu