The Influence of Culture on Teaching Southeast Asian Paraprofessionals

Abstract

This paper addresses the need for training Southeast Asian paraprofessional social workers. The theoretical and empirical literature on the social service needs of this group report that under-utilization and premature termination of services is common for this population. Further, all evidence points to the fact that Southeast Asians respond more readily to indigenous workers, who are knowledgeable about the cultural differences in service delivery between Eastern and Western cultures. Emphasis is placed on mutuality in learning between educators and students, and on the influence of culture and individiual life experiences which may enhance or impede the learning process. Knowledge of the culture is an essential ingredient for teaching effectiveness, and examples of specific teaching and learning issues relevant to cultural and migration experiences are reviewed.