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Homework:	The problem of many cultures in the discussion classroom.

Imagine that you have been selected to be a TA for one the large 
introductory course you are now taking (e.g., World History, etc.). As a 
TA you will be responsible for leading a recitation section, one that 
will depend heavily on group discussions.  In order to facilitate 
productive group discussions your goals will be 1) to keep the 
discussions lively and on topic as much as possible, and 2) to prevent 
hostility from arising among students (e.g., manifested in behaviors 
such as name-calling, etc.).

Having taken the course once yourself, you know to expect that the 
students in your section will likely be from many different countries 
having very different cultures (i.e., countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, 
North America, South America, etc.). Furthermore, because you have read 
authors like E. D. Hirsch and Diane Hoffman, you know to suspect that 
having representatives from diverse cultures in your class might make 
the job of leading discussion difficult, and you want to be prepared.  
So, as you think about your future role as discussion leader in a 
culturally diverse classroom. you ask yourself two questions 1) what 
kinds of problems might I encounter while, leading a discussion with at 
such a culturally diverse group, and 2) what kinds of measures might I 
take to alleviate these problems?

For your homework, try to answer these questions:

1)	List three kinds of problems you might encounter (give specific 
examples).

2)	List measures you might take as a discussion leader to alleviate 
these problems so that you can meet your goals of keeping class 
discussions lively and on topic and of preventing hostility from arising 
among students.