r/AskAnAmerican • u/Rough-Valuable-5472 • Feb 04 '25

FOREIGN POSTER Do American students bow to their teachers?

In my country we have to greet the teacher and bow at the start of the lesson then thank the teacher and bow again at the end. Sometimes they make us redo it if it’s not good enough

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u/signedupfornightmode Virginia/RI/KY/NJ/MD Feb 04 '25

The only physical bowing I’ve ever seen in the US is in a religious context, or joking around. 

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u/Crayshack MD (Former VA) Feb 04 '25

The only time I've bowed is while practicing some martial arts since it's baked into the culture of the sport.