This paper investigates several common alleged stereotypes related to the Asian learners in terms of reticence and passivity in the classroom and it reviews the factors offered as explanations for the perceived reticence and passivity. In addition to acknowledging the part culture plays in this behavioral profile, I have argued that factors other than culture i.e., students related and teacher issues play no less a role in the way Asian students interact in the ESL/EFL classroom. Finally, this paper summarizes some of the pedagogical implications of this stereotyping.

Pursuing educational goals in a cross-cultural context entails adjustments and adaptations to get acclimated to the host University. This study used a heuristic phenomenology approach to investigate a group of international students' acculturation experiences to the academic features of the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies (SLALS) at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, related to teacher-student roles and relationship, classroom teaching methodology and assessment of students' performance. The data revealed that international students had varying degree of difficulty...