| Communication is an essential skill utilized by any teacher. It is important to be a
culturally competent communicator. It is also important to identify the belief systems of
both the student and teacher to spot blocks to communication:
- ETHNOCENTRISM
- Inability to accept anothers culture's world view; "my way is the best"
- DISCRIMINATION
- Differential treatment of an individual due to minority status; actual
and perceived; e.g., "we just aren't equipped to serve people like that."
- STEREOTYPING
- Generalizing about a person while ignoring presence of individual
difference; e.g., "she's like that because she's Asian -- all Asians
are nonverbal."
- CULTURAL BLINDNESS
- Differences are ignored and one proceeds as though differences did not
exist; e.g., "there's no need to worry about a person's culture -- if
you're a sensitive teacher, you do okay."
- CULTURAL IMPOSITION
- Belief that everyone should conform to the majority; e.g., "we know
what's best for you, if you don't like it you can go elsewhere."
|