BRIDGING LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL OBSTACLES IN TEACHING SKIING

Abstract

Teaching skiing, due to its international dimension, needs some adaptations or modifications to fit a particular culture stetting. The main purpose of this pilot study was to verify the existence and identify the main obstacles ski instructors are faced with and to analyse strategies they use in teaching skiing. An on-line survey questionnaire was sent to Slovene ski instructors and to an international team of ski instructors in Japan ski resorts. The survey consisted of 25 questions about socio-demographic characteristics, experiences in teaching skiing and strategies related to the language and cultural differences of ski instructors. The response rate was expectedly low (20%), because the duration of the survey was only eight days. However, a group of 80 ski instructors (age 30.5±8.8 years; 50% female) were included in the research. The analyzed data confirmed the existence of obstacles and difficulties in communication and also some unpleasant culture related situations with foreign students. Most difficulties in teaching lessons were caused by poor or insufficient understanding of instruction and improper understanding of general questions of the student status and wellbeing. Further attention to evidenced intolerance among different students in the group with multicultural environment is needed. Concerning the gained competences in ski instructor training, further action should be focused towards increased proficiency in foreign language and social skills. Results from the pilot study offer an important baseline for further research to expand sociocultural consciousness and adapt curricula for contemporary ski instructors’ competences and increase effectiveness in teaching foreign student skiing.