Navigating educational mistakes in learning

Cultural perspectives of Emirati students and expatriate instructors in higher education

Authors

  • Cara D Williams Sharjah Education Academy, UAE
  • Zeina Hojeij Zayed University, UAE
  • Jason Johnson Emirates College for Advanced Education, UAE
  • Jenny Eppard Zayed University, UAE
  • Kara McKeown Zayed University, UAE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/5z34ya54

Keywords:

United Arab Emirates, Educational Mistakes, Error Culture, Higher Education, Cross Cultural Education

Abstract

This study examined the cultural perceptions of mistakes in learning within higher education classrooms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) among Emirati students and expatriate instructors. This study revealed an interplay of cultural norms, teaching practices, and mistaken culture in learning. While instructors emphasized the importance of embracing mistakes as tools for reflection and growth, many students associated mistakes with embarrassment and fear of judgment, reflecting broader cultural attitudes. Contrasting views on the roles and relationships between students and instructors were highlighted, with expatriate educators adopting facilitative teaching approaches and students often perceiving instructors as authoritative figures. The findings underscore the need for culturally responsive teaching strategies to foster a positive mistake culture and bridge the gap between pedagogical practices and student expectations. The implications provide valuable insights for international educators and policymakers striving to create inclusive and effective learning environments in culturally diverse contexts.

Author Biographies

  • Cara D Williams, Sharjah Education Academy, UAE

    CARA D. WILLIAMS, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at Sharjah Education Academy, United Arab Emirates. Her major research interests include inclusive education, game-based learning, special education, and higher education research. Email: cdwilliams@sea.ac.ae

  • Zeina Hojeij, Zayed University, UAE

    ZEINA HOJEIJ, PhD, is a Full Professor at the College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. Her major research interests include educational leadership, language education, mobile learning technology, and teaching and learning. Email: Zeina.Hojeij@zu.ac.ae

  • Jason Johnson, Emirates College for Advanced Education, UAE

    JASON JOHNSON, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Emirates College for Advanced Education in the United Arab Emirates. His major research interests lie in the areas of ethnomathematics, technology, and social justice. Email: Jason.Johnson@ecae.ac.ae

  • Jenny Eppard, Zayed University, UAE

    JENNY EPPARD, PhD, is the owner of The Education Technology House in the United States and was formally an Associate Professor in the College of Education at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates. Her major research interests lie in the areas of reading on the iPad, flipped learning, XMOOCs in the UAE, online collaborative tools to support content reading, vocabulary-centered apps, student e-portfolios, interactive documentaries, and online informal learning. Email: jrk3r@virginia.edu

  • Kara McKeown, Zayed University, UAE

    KARA McKEOWN, M.A., is a Senior Instructor of Art History at Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. Her major research interests include developing students’ language skills within their chosen specialization and at the interface between language teaching pedagogy and the teaching of art and design. Email: Kara.McKeown@zu.ac.ae

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2025-11-27

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Vol. 15 No. 12 (2025): Journal of International Students

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How to Cite

Williams, C. D., Hojeij, Z., Johnson, J., Eppard, J., & McKeown, K. (2025). Navigating educational mistakes in learning: Cultural perspectives of Emirati students and expatriate instructors in higher education. Journal of International Students, 15(12), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.32674/5z34ya54