Learning about a foreign language is not
enough to know about other peoples and other countries. It is very
important to know about the culture, values, customs, traditions, ways of thinking and the ways of living of the people whose language you are
studying about.
Knowing about cultures facilitate the mutual
understanding among peoples. Mutual understanding creates good ties and
relations on the standard of individuals, peoples and countries.
Good
relations lead to solving problems, ending wars and spreading love,
tolerance, peace and happiness all over the world.
Importance of Diversity & Cultural Awareness in the Classroom
In our increasingly diverse and multicultural society, it’s more
important than ever for teachers to incorporate culturally responsive
instruction in the classroom -- whether teaching elementary school,
middle school or high school students.
And the increase of diversity
doesn’t only relate to race and ethnicity; it can include students of
different religion, economic status, sexual orientation, gender
identity, and language background.
Learning and Learners:
If a classroom teacher is to facilitate successful learning
opportunities for all learners, he or she must “know” the learner.
This
includes knowing about innate personality traits we call “style”
and
also learned cultural values that affect behavior.
The learner, of any
age, is a product of nature and nurture.
We each are born with
predispositions for learning in certain ways.
We also are products of
external influences, especially
within our immediate family, extended community, and culture.
Researchers confirm that learning patterns are a function of both
nature and nurture
Why is it Important to Encourage Diversity in Schools ?
Fostering inclusion and awareness around multicultural education and
taking a culturally responsive approach to teaching benefits all
students.
Not only does creating greater multicultural awareness and
inclusion help students with different backgrounds and needs succeed,
but it encourages acceptance and helps prepare students to thrive in an
exponentially diverse world.
Our social,emotional and behavioral Wellness certificate program is
a great opportunity for teachers to learn how to create positive
classroom environments and can serve as a foundation for understanding
how to promote diversity in your classroom.
Diversity in and out of the classroom will continue to grow, so it’s
essential we prepare students to adapt to an evolving world and embrace
those different from themselves.
How do you Manage Diversity in the Classroom?
There are several ways teachers and administrators, such as principals and
coaches, can ensure that both the classroom environment and curriculum
are responsive to the increasing cultural diversity of our society.
These strategies will encourage all students’ cultural awareness,
enhancing each student’s sense of identity, and foster inclusion in the
classroom community.
Get to Know Your Students
Ensuring that cultural awareness is promoted in the classroom starts
with the teacher understanding each individual student. Take the time
to learn about each student’s cultural background, hobbies, learning
styles, and what makes them unique.
Demonstrating a genuine interest in
learning about each student and their culture will help establish trust
and allow you to form a bond with them so they feel valued.
If students
feel appreciated by and comfortable with the teacher, there’s a better
chance they’ll feel comfortable talking with and respect their peers in
the class – and communication is the core to a culturally aware and
inclusive classroom.
Maintain Consistent Communication
Aside from getting to know your students, teachers should also
continue to maintain ongoing communication throughout the semester or
school year. Scheduling 1-on-1 meetings with students to “check in”
every so often will allow you to consistently improve how accessible the
classroom is to everyone. Students can talk about whether they felt
included in the classroom culture.
Acknowledge and Respect Every Student
It’s also important for students to celebrate and respect their own
diverse backgrounds, as well as each other’s. When appropriate, teachers
should encourage students to research and learn about their own ethnic
and cultural backgrounds. This allows them to better understand their
own culture as well as the differences and nuances with their peers.
As a
bonus, this can be a great ice breaker assignment, allowing students to
give presentations about their family traditions and culture to help
expose the class to concepts outside of their own familiar comfort zone.
Acknowledging these differences and creating a safe space for
discussion helps promote understanding in the classroom and beyond.
Also, as you encourage students to learn about their diverse
backgrounds, remember to take the time to highlight what’s offensive and
the distinction between cultural celebration and appropriation.
Learning how to talk about other cultures in a respectful, mature way is
essential for success in life outside the classroom.
Practice Cultural Sensitivity
While it’s important to keep an open dialogue amongst students, it’s
equally as important to make sure you’re being sensitive to everyone’s
culture, beliefs, and language concerns. Take the time to understand
each student’s cultural nuances – from learning styles to the language
they use – and use these insights to design your lesson plans.
For
example, provide English language learners with appropriate and relevant
resources that help them improve their English comprehension skills.
Rather than teach with a traditional lecture style, create learning
experiences that are more interactive and require collaboration.
Incorporate Diversity in the Lesson Plan
The classroom environment is important for fostering cultural
awareness, but you also should ensure diversity is represented in your
actual lesson plan. For example, broaden history lessons so that they
encompass the world beyond United States history and culture. Or, use
references and analogies to other cultures in your lessons and
assignments to help students with diverse backgrounds personally
connect.
Another great strategy is bringing in diverse speakers to add
varying points of view and real-life context to different subjects.There
are several ways you can ingrain cultural awareness and diversity into
your lesson plan, and it will vary depending on the cultures represented
in your classroom and the course you’re teaching.
Regardless of the
subject, always try to present and connect lessons to real-world issues.
It’s easier to promote cultural awareness within your lessons when
there’s a real example for students to relate to.
Give Students Freedom and Flexibility
Teachers often feel like they need to take on a strict,
authoritative approach when it comes to managing their classroom. The
most valuable lessons are often learned through a student’s own
experiences, so giving them some freedom in the course encourages more
connection to the curriculum.
Allow students to read and present their
own materials that relate to the fundamental lesson so they can approach
the topic from their own perspective. As a teacher, you can act as a
facilitator and encourage conversation and healthy debate between
diverse opinions.
Group assignments are also a great way to expose
students to diverse perspectives, allowing them to work together to
explore and solve a problem. This will also help prepare them for a
diverse workforce where they’ll have to partner with a range of people
to accomplish their professional goals.
Why is it Important to Teach Culture in the
Classroom?
It is important to remind ourselves why diversity and cultural
awareness is so crucial in the classroom and the benefits it can have on
students now and in the long-term.
Teaching diversity exposes students
to various cultural and social groups, preparing students to become
better citizens in their communities. These culturally responsive
teaching strategies will help you to promote diversity in the classroom.
Students Become More Empathetic
Promoting awareness and creating a personal connection with diverse
cultures in the classroom can prevent students from developing
prejudices later in life. It allows them to empathize with people
different from themselves since they’re more aware of the experiences
someone of a different race or cultural group may face.
Students Gain a Better Understanding of Lessons
and People
When working and learning with people from a variety of backgrounds
and cultures present in the classroom, students gain a more
comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. It also teaches
students how to use their own strengths and points of view to contribute
in a diverse working environment.
Students Become More Open-Minded
Naturally, by exposing students to a diverse range of opinions,
thoughts, and cultural backgrounds, you’re encouraging them to be more
open-minded later in life. This will make them open to new ideas and be
able to attain a greater comprehension on a topic by taking in different
points of view.
Students Feel More Confident and Safe
Students who learn about different cultures during their education
feel more comfortable and safe with these differences later in life.
This allows them to interact in a wider range of social groups and feel
more confident in themselves as well as in their interactions with
others.
Students Are Better Prepared for a Diverse
Workplace
With the rise of globalization, it’s more important to be able to
work with people from different cultures and social groups. If students
are exposed to diversity and learn cultural awareness in the classroom,
it sets them up to flourish in the workforce.
