How can we transform cultural diversity into valuable resources at home?
Today, Lilian talked with us about cultural diversity. It was the most interesting session for me so far because it totally changed my opinion about diversity in the classroom. Until today, I experienced schools and lessons trying to be much unified regarding their students’ attitude and behavior. Teachers focused on showing similarities of students rather than showing their differences. I always thought that it is the most important task of a teacher to bring students together by showing what they have in common. But Lilian made me aware of the importance of including the students’ own culture into class. Only if students are allowed to speak their own language and only if they can identify with the school and classroom, they will feel integrated. This feeling of belonging somewhere is an important foundation for effective learning conditions.
In the course of the session, Lilian used a lot of new teaching methods. It was very interesting that she chose these methods to show how a global teacher can avoid exclusion and include diversity among the students. I will consider using these methods in my lessons, too. The brainstorming about activities: How to show diversity; was also very helpful for me and broadened my horizon. I could collect a lot of great ideas which I will use as a teacher.
Here are some of them:
- cook book
- international- brunch, library, music collection, dance event, dress up
- 4-corner game (naming a statement and give 1 possible answers in each corner; students
see that everyone has a different opinion and learn how to discuss)
- making a personal profile (each child writes about his own interests, religion, culture...)
- pie chart from last session with Lilian can be used for cultural topics, too
- presentation of the child’s own county (country/culture of the week)
- partner interview about the culture/cultural background
Nevertheless, I had a slide problem with the integration of the students’ native language. My mom is teaching at a school in Germany where a lot of immigrants and asylum-seekers attend to. She told me that a lot of students used to speak in their own language and therefore, avoid learning the German language. The problem here is to know where the balance between using the native and the foreign language is and where the boundaries are.
The session today helped me to be more tolerant toward the inclusion of cultural diversity into the classroom and gave me the opportunity to see how to implement my ideas into my lessons.
I made this poster together with Melanie and Michiel. We wanted to show cultural diversity and cultural similarities in class. You can use this kind of poster in every grade. We made this poster for a 4th grade. Of course, the headlines must be chosen regarding to the interests of each class. It is a good way to show cultural differences (e.g. traditions: spanish bullfight and eastern), but also that children are so similar regarding their hobbies and the way they dress.
I made this poster together with Melanie and Michiel. We wanted to show cultural diversity and cultural similarities in class. You can use this kind of poster in every grade. We made this poster for a 4th grade. Of course, the headlines must be chosen regarding to the interests of each class. It is a good way to show cultural differences (e.g. traditions: spanish bullfight and eastern), but also that children are so similar regarding their hobbies and the way they dress.
