Multicultural Action Plan
All cultures share certain hidden values, beliefs, and attitudes that can interfere with a student’s ability to function in the classroom and the teacher’s ability to reach the student. Teachers need to be aware of the essential cultural characteristics that affect their students. Whether they are able to tailor their lessons and content areas to each culture represented in their class or not, teachers can go a long way toward engaging students and connecting with them by showing empathy and cultural sensitivity.
All cultures share certain hidden values, beliefs, and attitudes that can interfere with a student’s ability to function in the classroom and the teacher’s ability to reach the student. Teachers need to be aware of the essential cultural characteristics that affect their students. Whether they are able to tailor their lessons and content areas to each culture represented in their class or not, teachers can go a long way toward engaging students and connecting with them by showing empathy and cultural sensitivity.
We would try to achieve these ends by considering the following elements of culture in our instruction and lessons:
1) Ceremony: What people are supposed to say and do in certain situations. Example: always kissing upon greeting another person.
2) Gesture and Kinesthetics: Forms of nonverbal communication or reinforced speech (use of hands, eyes, and the body).
3) Grooming and Presence: Differences in personal behavior and appearance (laughter, smile, voice quality, walk, dress, cosmetics, etc.).
4) Precedence: Accepted manners toward elders, peers, and younger persons.
5) Rewards and Privileges: Attitudes towards motivation, merit, achievement, service, social position, etc. For example, does the culture value individual or group achievement?
6) Space and Proxemics: Attitudes about oneself and the land. Acceptable distances between individuals.
7) Concepts of Time: Attitudes towards being on time, early, or late.
8) Religion: Common religious beliefs, customs, or values.
9) Family Values: Family organization, size, obligations, and entitlements. For example, does only the immediate family live together? Or do extended families cohabitate?
10) Language: What is the native language? Is English taught in native country? In what (if any) circumstances is English used? Are there words that have different meaning?
