Teach English in Changzheng Zhen [incl. Wanlǐ Jiedao] - Shanghai Shi

Cultural Sensitivity in the ClassroomThe world is full of human diversity. Even within countries there are vast amounts of differences, yet there are many universal commonalities that when they are recognized make the differences seem much more insignificant. Cultural sensitivity is just another part of kindness, thinking of others. In the classroom teachers and students are presented with a unique opportunity to learn from each other. In this brief paper the foundation of cultural sensitivity, how to deal with conflict, and some practical applications will be presented. The Foundation The cornerstone of cultural sensitivity is kindness. If a student can see that his teacher really cares about him, even if the teacher messes up, the student will be more likely to forgive. Another building block is knowledge. Every culture is unique, and it would be well worth a teacher?s while to learn about each student?s home culture. In general, there are two different categories of cultures in the world, ?hot-climate cultures and cold-climate cultures.? (Foreign to Familiar by Sarah A. Lanier, pg 13) Each type of culture views time, relationships, tasks, communication, and identity differently. The book Foreign to Familiar by Sarah A. Lanier addresses the subject most adroitly. Once the teacher understands the student?s values he can better relate to the student. Conflicts Teacher/student conflicts can happen in any teaching scenario. The important thing to remember is to be humble, willing to say, ?I was wrong,? and be sure communication is clear. It may be necessary to use a translator in order to clear up miscommunications. Student to student conflict can also pose a problem. While it may not bother a student from South America to start class a half hour late, this could ruin a whole day?s schedule for a Danish student because their time values are different. This can be true even in a monolingual class. ?Teachers should not assume that students who share a common native language will share similar cultural backgrounds? (http://esl.yourdictionary.com/lesson-plans/ESL_Classroom-and-Cultural_Sensitivity.html Accessed 1/21/12). The teacher needs to create an environment that is structured but encourages mutual goodwill. If a student cannot resolve a conflict with another student they should know that they can always talk to the teacher about it. Practical Applications There are many practical ways to be culturally sensitive in the classroom. Being a good listener, for instance, is very important. If the students feel free to talk to the teacher about any problems they are having in the classroom, they will feel less culturally threatened. Watching for early signs of discomfort and then asking the student if there is a problem can prevent a small oversight from becoming a big problem. Another idea is to provide english speaking activities that encourage the students to share about their own cultures; it is a great opportunity for mutual understanding. It is also important to choose topics that are culturally relative and interesting for the students. In a multi-lingual class the teacher could cycle through topics of interest to the different cultures represented. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly of all, everyone should be willing to laugh and learn. Everyone smiles in the same language. Conclusion Being culturally sensitive in the classroom includes kindness, knowledge, humility, communication, and a sense of humor. Learning about the student?s own culture shows the teacher?s personal interest in them. Clear communication and humility will help in preventing and resolving conflicts. Finally some creativity and a sense of humor can make the classroom a welcoming and fun environment in which to learn. When people take the time to learn about each other, everyone benefits.