Student Life Cultural Profiles by Country.Indd
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Bahrain School Classes In Bahrain, students are primarily evaluated on homework, quizzes, community service and midterm and fi nal exams. Class participation does not contribute to a student’s grade in the public school system. However, it does in the private school system. In Bahrain, some private schools are co-ed while others are not and boys and girls are seat- ed apart. Schools in Bahrain have a dress code. In Bahrain public and Arabic private students remain in the same classroom and teachers rotate to the diff erent rooms. In non-Arabic private schools, students usually take each subject in a diff erent classroom. COUNTRY FACTS: School Relationships In Bahrain students usually use the title “Mr.” or “Ms.,” with the teacher’s fi rst name. Capital: Manama Th eir relationship is friendly, but still formal. Population: 738,004 Area, sq. mi.: 286 Extracurricular Activities In Bahrain, students are asked to do 60 hours of community service. However, there are Real GDP per capita: 38,800 no clubs in public schools. Most parents in Bahrain are not involved in their children’s Adult literacy rate: 89% (male); extracurricular activities. 84% (female) School Rules Ethnic make-up: Bahraini Cell phones are not allowed in class and phones should be turned off . Schools in Bah- 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% rain do have a dress code, but not necessarily uniforms. Religion: Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, Return Students from public schools may fi nd it hard upon return to Bahrain to study their other 9.8% main subjects in Arabic as they used to do before their exchange year in the U.S. Many of them transfer to private English schools. Family Life In Bahrain households usually consists of parents, their children, and sometimes grandparents. Sometimes the household is large with uncles and their families under one roof. Children do not leave home even when they are in college or work. Th ey move out of the fam- ily home when they are married. In many Bahraini families mothers do not work. However, if she does, the father is still responsible for supporting his family. Both parents have equal authority, but in some families most of the authority is with the father. In Bahrain family members are expected to have time to pursue to their own interests. Family members must respect each other’s de- sires. In Bahrain, meals are usually eaten together as a family. Teen Life If a Bahraini child owns something, it is generally his or her own and not understood to be the shared property of siblings. Th is includes clothing. When siblings want to borrow something from each other, it is generally understood that they must ask fi rst. In Bahrain teenagers are expected to interact respectfully with their parents at all times. However, it is fi ne to be informal with their siblings. Responsibilities In Bahrain, it is common for families to employ household help. Boys and girls are generally not used to doing house chores. Most teenagers in Bahrain rarely cook for themselves. Most Bahraini teenagers do not have part-time jobs because the concept of working while studying does not exist in Bahrain. Th eir parents are expected to give them monthly allowances. Students are expected to be responsible for their academic performance and other school related issues. Parental Involvement Most teenagers in Bahrain are dependent upon their parents. Bahraini parents are in direct contact with schools and monitor their children’s academic progress regularly. Pets Nearly all Bahraini households are pet-free. Bahraini students may initially feel uncomfortable if pets are given “free reign” of the house. Personal Interactions Mixed Gender Socializing Having friends of the opposite sex is not acceptable for most in Bahraini society. Teenagers sometimes socialize in groups, and some- times one-on-one; both ways are considered appropriate and the choice is left up to the individual. Amongst good friends it is common to share money, but not in casual friendships. Eye Contact As a sign of respect, children do not tend to make direct eye-contact with adults. Instead, they look towards the ground when they are spoken to by adults. Personal Hygiene Bahraini teenagers generally take a quick (5-15 minute) shower once a day and sometimes twice if they are involved in physical activi- ties. In Bahrain, everyone has their own towel, either one or two, to use in the bathroom. Bahraini teenagers are expected to keep their bathrooms clean and dry aft er using them. Towels are hung up and hygiene products are put away. It is generally thought to be unclean in Bahrain to wear the same clothes two days in a row. In Bahrain most teenagers do not change clothes upon entering the house. Religion Holidays Most families encourage their children to attend religious services. Usually boys go to the mosque with their fathers every Friday for the congregational prayer. During Ramadan, students fast from dawn until sunset. Eid is a religious and family event. Parents give money to their children. Recognized holidays include Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha along with national holidays. Some of these observances are the same as the U.S. holidays, such as Labor Day, Independence Day, etc. Bangladesh School Classes In Bangladesh, students remain in the same classroom and teachers rotate to the diff er- ent rooms. Th ere are both co-ed and same gender schools in Bangladesh. In the co-ed school, boys and girls may sit next to each other in the same classroom. All students wear a uniform to school. School Relationships Students have a formal relationship with their teachers and address them by “Sir” or “Miss.” COUNTRY FACTS: Extracurricular Activities Capital: Dhaka Students join clubs and other extracurricular activities through school in Bangladesh. Population: 156,118,464 Parents do try to give time to their child’s extracurricular activity. Area, sq. mi.: 55,598 School Rules Real GDP per capita: 16,000 Cell phones are only to be used in an emergency and with the permission of the school authority. Adult literacy rate: 54% (male); 41% (female) Return Ethnic make-up: Bengali Bangladeshi students lose an academic year while they are abroad in the U.S. 98%, other 2% (includes tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims) Family Life In Bangladesh, most households consist of parents, or a parent, and their children. Religion: Muslim 89.5%, Hindu Rarely do grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins live in the same house even if they 9.6%, other 0.9% live in the same town. However, there are some joint families; sometimes grandparents move in with the family as they age, but this custom is changing and is less common. Families typically eat together, but it is not un- usual to eat apart as schedules demand. Students are accustomed to making small and simple meals for themselves, however they will not be accustomed to making full meals for themselves. In Bangladesh, many mothers remain at home and fathers are the only earning member; in some families, both parents work and share responsibilities at home as well. Both parents may expect to be seen as equal authority fi gures in all household decisions, however the father as the head of the family, has a great infl uence in all decisions. In Bangladesh, it is considered respectful to allow family members regular, individual time by themselves, to pursue their own activities, socialize with friends or to simply relax, but minors are expected to ask permission from elders or parents before socializing outside of the house. Teen Life In Bangladesh, children ask for permission before they borrow anything. However, sharing, especially with cosmetics, food, and means of transportation, is typical. Many things are considered common, though, like food, and can be taken or used without asking. Responsibilities Generally, house help are employed at home for cleaning rooms and bathrooms, doing laundry and chores. Bangladeshi teenagers are generally not given important responsibilities beyond their own academic performance. It is very rare for a teenager in Bangladesh to think about his or her own pocket money. Students do not take on employment of any kind and are dependent on their parents for fi nancial purposes. Parental Involvement Bangladeshi parents oft en monitor what their children do online in the interest of their children’s safety. Parents may limit what sites a child visits online, or how much time the child spends on the internet. Many Bangladeshi parents are in direct contact with their children’s school and are kept aware of their academic progress. Pets Few families in Bangladesh have pets at home, and any household pets will typically be kept outside. Personal Interactions Mixed Gender Socializing Boys and girls may socialize together, but group socializing is preferred. Teenagers in Bangladesh are generally not encouraged to have friends of opposite sex. Friendships Parents do not encourage teenagers to share money with friends or peers. Teenagers in Bangladesh have friends but always maintain a certain distance between each other. Parents are conscious about their child’s friends. Eye Contact While talking to any person regardless of age, creed or cast everyone makes eye contact. In Bangladesh it is a way of showing respect. Cultural Norms Parents prefer to have a direct style of communication with their children. Bangladeshis are reserved and feel shy when it comes to displaying negative emotions amongst their peers and family. Personal space is valued and expected in Bangladeshi society. Personal Hygiene Generally, a Bangladeshi teenager will take one 10-15 minute shower once a day. In Bangladesh, each person usually has one towel for their individual use.