Multiculturalism Flashcards
What is culture?
A system of knowledge shared by a relatively large group of people
What does culture affect?
Culture affects communication, communication affects culture
Give an example of how culture affects communication
People take in information in their brain translated into their mother language. The interpretation may go differently
What is culture in its broadest sense?
Something that a person learns and forms through their experiences living in society
Explain what is culture
- Something that a person learns and forms through their experiences living in society
- A way of life of a group of people: their behaviours, beliefs, values and symbols that they accept, and passed along through communication and imitation from one generation to the next
- Symbolic communication, including the group’s skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, and motives. The meanings of these symbols are learned and kept alive
- The sum of the learned behaviour of a group of people. It’s passed down from generation to generation, generally considered to be the tradition of those people
What does culture consist of?
- Explicit and implicit patterns, behaviour acquired and transmitted by symbols
- The distinctive achievement of human groups, including embodiments in artefacts
- Traditional ideas and attached values
How do you teach a culturally diverse classroom?
- Get to know the students and involve their families
- Encourage group work
- Incorporate cultural decorations
- Use various teaching strategies
- Maintain high expectations
- Provide alternative assessments to encourage inclusivity
- Remain open-minded
- Have students do research and present their culture to the class
Why is it important to be aware of multiculture?
To instil understanding, sensitivity and appreciation of the history, values, experiences and lifestyles of groups that include:
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Sexual orientation
- Religious affiliation
- Socio-economic status
- Mental/physical abilities.
How do you create cultural awareness?
- Be fair and just
- Find common ground
-Think of the content of activities
How do you be fair and just while creating cultural awareness?
While teaching culture to pupils, don’t teach only one or two while excluding the others. Give each culture the respect it’s due
How do you incorporate culture into activities?
Use activities that focus on the nature and richness of pupils’ own culture and of their peers. This opens their eyes to the value of the culture of their own and their peers
How do you find common ground in cultures?
Find and discuss commonalities between cultures. Start with something simple, like a dish or delicacy
What is meant by cultural competence?
The ability and confidence to interact effectively with children, families, and colleagues of different cultures
How do you gain cultural competence?
Create strong home school relationships
How do you create strong home school relationships?
- Keep in touch with parents and families
- Learn and understand families’ hopes, goals and expectations
- Get families involved
What are the five essential elements to an institution’s ability to become more culturally competent?
- Value diversity
- The ability for cultural self-assessment
- Being aware of intercultural communication
- Have the ability for cross-cultural communication
- Have developed adaptations to service delivery reflecting an understanding of cultural diversity
What is meant by cultural infusion?
The incorporation of culture and culture identity into every aspect of treatment
How do you ensure that pupils are culturally aware?
By ensuring that there is cultural infusion
What are ways to infuse cultural diversity concepts across the curriculum?
- Increase a child’s understanding of a broad view of cultural diversity
- Value the importance of cultural diversity to ensure successful learning
- Understand that cultural diversity progresses from narrowly focused personal relevance to a more broad focused concern, activities can be customed to focus on this progress
How do you react to cultural material that pupils bring into your classroom?
Acknowledge multicultural accomplishments and pupils’ efforts
How do you acknowledge pupils’ efforts and multicultural accomplishments?
- When cultures are represented accurately and fairly
- When cultures of their peers are represented accurately and fairly
- When they provide and use accurate and non-discriminatory historical information
- When they do not use stereotypes in class, including language, material and actions
- Simply acknowledge their efforts when they exercise any and all forms of equality
