Teaching Across Cultures - by James E Plueddemann (Paperback)

About the Book

In our globalized world, educators often struggle to adapt to the contexts of diverse learners. In this practical resource, educator and missiologist James Plueddemann offers field-tested insights for teaching across cultural differences. He unpacks how different cultural dynamics may inhibit learning and offers a framework for integrating conceptual ideas into practical experience.

Book Synopsis

Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year

In our globalized world, ideas are constantly being exchanged between people of different cultural backgrounds. But educators often struggle to adapt to the contexts of diverse learners. Some focus so much on content delivery that they overlook cross cultural barriers to effective teaching.

Educator and missiologist James Plueddemann offers field-tested insights for teaching across cultural differences. He unpacks how different cultural dynamics may inhibit learning and offers a framework for integrating conceptual ideas into practical experience. He provides a model of teaching as pilgrimage, where the aim is not merely the mastery of information but the use of knowledge to foster the development of the pilgrim learner.

Plueddemann's cross cultural experience shows how teachers can make connections between content and context, bridging truth and life. Those who teach in educational institutions, mission organizations, churches, and other ministries will find insights here for transformational cross cultural learning.

Review Quotes

"After reading Teaching Across Cultures, my initial reaction was that this is a must read for anyone who teaches others who are not exactly like themselves, which is of course everyone. James Plueddemann has given us a book that needs to be in the toolkit of every missionary and church teacher."

--Marcus Dean, Evangelical Missions Quarterly, Vol. 55 No. 4

"Jim Plueddemann's book Teaching Across Cultures is a road trip. After each bend in the road, teacher and travelers reflect on discoveries never seen before though looked at many times."

--Mark H. Senter III, professor emeritus ofeducational ministry, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"Jim's breakthrough thinking combining theory and practice in a truly transformative learning cycle, is both profound and simple at the same time. It is profound enough to guide anyone who desires to teach in any culture yet simple enough to remember and apply time after time. We often read books which are complex but ultimately superficial. Reading Teaching Across Cultures is refreshingly simple but startlingly profound. Disciple makers, preachers, and teachers anywhere will profitby a thorough study and practice of this book."

--Charles A. Davis, former director, TEAM, author, Making Disciples Across Cultures

"Masterful weaving of both theory and practice . . . Teaching Across Cultures will be helpful to virtually every audience whether the differences are cultural, generational, ethnic, gender, or regional. We all want to be better teachers. We are all concerned with outcomes as a result of our teaching; this book takes us there as well."

--From the foreword by Duane Elmer, author of Cross-Cultural Servanthood

"The depth and breadth of Plueddemann's experience and relationships is inspiring and instructive. The fact that it covers so many different contexts is a reflection of the deep commitment and faithfulness that, in turn, produced this helpful resource. Jim is not a mere teacher but instead is a humble, life-long learner, leader, and trainer. He brings the theory down to the ground--in context--in community. Added to that, at the end of each chapter there are voices from all over the globe. AndJim knows that he doesn't know everything . . . or much sometimes! But that is the power of his approach and this tool. This is a tool for trainers and learners. It was a joy to walk through this book, seeing his heart and the depth of his commitment to the subject over the long haul."

--Greg H. Parsons, Frontier Ventures, Pasadena, California

About the Author

James E. Plueddemann (PhD, Michigan State), now retired, taught for many years as professor of missions at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He also previously served as the chair of the educational ministries department at Wheaton College. Heis the author of Leading Across Cultures: Effective Ministry and Mission in the Global Church.

Duane H. Elmer (PhD, Michigan State) has taught in over seventy-five countries and has provided cross-cultural training to Fortune 500 companies, relief and development agencies, mission organizations, churches, and educational institutions. He previously served as director of the PhD program in educational studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has also conducted peace and reconciliation efforts in several countries. His books include Cross-Cultural Conflict, Cross-Cultural Connections, and Cross-Cultural Servanthood. The Elmers live in Winfield, Illinois.