Communication is an essential skill utilized by any
teacher. It is important to be a culturally competent communicator. It is also
important to identify the belief systems of both the student and teacher to spot
blocks to communication:
ETHNOCENTRISM
Inability to
accept another culture's worldview; "my way is the best"
DISCRIMINATION
Differential
treatment of an individual due to minority status; actual and perceived; e.g.,
"we just aren't equipped to serve people like that."
STEREOTYPING
Generalizing about
a person while ignoring presence of individual difference; e.g., "she's like
that because she's Asian -- all Asians are nonverbal."
CULTURAL BLINDNESS
Differences are
ignored and one proceeds as though differences did not exist; e.g., "there's no
need to worry about a person's culture -- if you're a sensitive teacher, you do
okay."
CULTURAL IMPOSITION
Belief that
everyone should conform to the majority; e.g., "we know what's best for you, if
you don't like it you can go elsewhere."
CONCEPTS RELATED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES (ETHNIC)
E
--Everyone has a culture. T --Take time to collect relevant cultural information. H --Hold all judgments; i.e., be careful about interpreting the
culturally different
student's behavior, especially if unfamiliar with
the culture. N --Notice and negotiate differences in understanding of teaching and
learning. I -- Involve cultural resources as appropriate. C --Collaborate to develop objectives and educational strategies.
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