5 Ways to Bridge Cultural Differences with Learning

1.     Allow students to bring their cultures and knowledge into the classroom

Learning becomes easier and more efficient when students are able to bring in their prior knowledge and make connections between what they already know and the new ideas and concepts that they are learning. As future teachers, we should acknowledge that students come to school with different life experiences, and we should allow children to tap into these experiences to enhance their knowledge base effectively.

2.     Get to know your students

Take the time to get to know your students and where they are coming from. If you know about their family make-up or immigration history, you can help students find connections with the material they are learning in class and their personal lives. When students are able to find relevance in the learning material and connect with it on a personal level, they are more likely to engage with this material and take an active position in their learning.

3.     Appreciate different cultural values and work on being culturally-sensitive

As teachers, we should be aware that not all cultures have the same set of values or beliefs. Different cultures, for instance, have different rules for communication: body language, gestures and facial expressions differ from one culture to another. In this case, we need to be sensitive to the fact that children from different cultures will have different ways of communicating. To prevent segregating and confusing students, we should be sensitive to their cultural differences.

4.     Set high expectations for all students

Studies have shown that teachers often set lower expectations for students who are from different (especially minority) cultural backgrounds, as well as children who have different linguistic abilities. In order to produce the best work from students, we should set high expectations for every learner. Students from different cultures and backgrounds should also be viewed as capable learners, who can reach high performance standards. These standards need to be modified based on the learner and his/her abilities, but they should nonetheless challenge and motivate all students to work hard.

5.     Incorporate more multicultural learning materials within the classroom

Teachers should incorporate books and learning materials that reflect the cultural and linguistic differences within their classroom. There should be books written from different perspectives and about different cultures, artwork from around the world, a welcome sign with different languages. By bringing in a diverse selection of materials into their classroom, teachers can help make their classroom more inclusive and welcoming to students from diverse backgrounds and cultures. If students feel accepted and welcomed, they are more likely to develop a passion and love for school and education.

It is important to note that many of these suggestions will not only help students from different cultures learn, but they will also benefit all students in become more culturally accepting and open-minded. These suggestions will help set the conditions to create a society that is free from discrimination, stereotypes and biases.

ReferenceVillegas, A., & Lucas, T. (2007). The Culturally. Educational Leadership, 28-33.

Rishima Talwar