Before the arrival of a new ELL student, a teacher reads about the student's culture and learns that direct eye contact is considered rude. What should the teacher do?

• A. Insist on eye contact in all interactions
• B. Speak with the student about his or her level of comfort with eye contact and the cultural norm
• C. Avoid speaking to the student altogether
• D. Only communicate via written notes

Answer: (B)

Culturally responsive communication means aligning your interactions with the student’s comfort and cultural norms. If eye contact is considered rude in the student’s culture, the best move is to talk with the student about how they prefer to handle eye contact and how they like to be treated during conversations. This shows you respect their background, helps build trust, and prevents awkward or uncomfortable moments. By asking directly, you can agree on a level of eye contact that feels appropriate and still ensures clear communication, while you also offer supportive cues like nodding, using clear spoken language, and checking for understanding. This approach supports the student’s language development and sense of belonging in the classroom.

Insisting on eye contact would ignore the student’s cultural norms and could make conversations feel disrespectful or stressful. Not speaking to the student at all would cut off essential communication and learning. Relying only on written notes eliminates real-time interaction and the chance to practice listening and speaking skills.