RUNNINGHEAD: Why Multicultural Education 1

Krystal Ibanez

Assignment 4.1 Why Multicultural Education

Fresno Pacific University

Instructor: Storiann Camps

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The Multicultural classroom

Today in classrooms our teachers are being faced with having to find a new approach in

their teaching due to their growing multicultural classroom. Our world is a huge melting pot of

cultures and we are seeing this diversity in the classroom. What is culture? Culture includes

everything that makes one group or community within a society distinctive from another:

language, values, literature, world view, food, religion, clothing, holidays, beliefs, and behavior

that construct a specific groups lifestyle ( Alsubaie , 2015,Pg 1).

With this in mind educators are having to make changes to have a successful he growing

number in these minority groups are constantly climbing with twenty five percent belonging to a

racial or minority group (Jimenez, Norma, Maxwell, 2014). With these numbers it is evident that

educators take the step in being aware of the cultures in their classroom. It is found that the lack

of culture awareness and understanding of their students will have an influence in school

practices (Jimenez, Norma, Maxwell, 2014). I feel this is where and open mind and heart come

in, although our own culture may be very different than our students we have to maintain a

balance. I believe for the student as well this new learning environment can cause discomfort.

This new environment may cause an issue in communication, teaching and learning, with the

student unable to adapt to his new surroundings ( Alsubaie , 2015).

Working with students from a different culture language and expression can be an

obstacle. I have had the opportunity to work with two twin brothers from China who knew very

little English and came from a very structured and disciplined educational setting. Compared to

their classmates they were very hesitant on talking or participating. These two students were
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actually a grade higher in their country but with limited English they began to fall behind. The

language barrier is not what educators need to make a number one priority but learning more

about their students cultural background and experiences will be more efficient in their work as

teachers. During a project done in South Texas with three educators and school leaders, one

participant by the name of Portos, stated that educators need to have in mind that language is

not everything they need to understand the culture of the students because language is only a

small part of the culture (Jimenez, Norma, Maxwell, 2014).

There is much that can be done to help improve the academic achievement and

classroom environment of these multicultural classrooms. Teachers need to be offered the

resources or professional development to help maintain a positive multicultural environment.

Teachers should also be provided with the knowledge of the cultures of their students,

communication styles as well as the learning approaches that are cohesive for all the students in

the multicultural classroom ( Alsubaie , 2015). Parent involvement is also a great way to get the

student comfortable and to maintain a communication between parent and teacher. In one study

it was mentioned the idea of parent and child sharing with the class their culture and traditions,

as well as what it is like living in their home country (Jimenez, Norma, Maxwell, 2014). This

would make the student feel comfortable talking about their culture alongside a parent and also

introduce the other students to various cultures so they can understand their classmates.

Multicultural education is a benefit to the student as a whole and the teacher who is

making this environment an experience they will all remember. Although many steps do need to

be taken to improve teaching in the multicultural environment, the outcome of this change will

only be positive. All children deserve to have an equal opportunity to an education and to feel
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comfortable with their culture. We as educators are one of a childs most important influences

with the other being their parents or caregivers. We may not know what morals they are taught at

home but in the classroom we can promote equality and understanding of other cultures and race.

We need to lead by example in that what we teach our students we need to demonstrate as well. I

feel multicultural education can face some obstacles in the classroom but be an even better

learning experience for the teacher who is now having to learn new techniques and ways in

teaching. Multicultural education is and will continue to grow and is going to give all children an

equal opportunity to a better future.

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Reference

Alsubaie, M. A. (2015). Examples of Current Issues in the Multicultural Classroom. F Education

and Practice, 6, 86-88. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1081654.pdf

Jimenez, M., Norma, G., & Maxwell, G. M. (2014). South Texas Teachers and Leaders

Perceptions of Multicultural Education. Instructional Pedagogies, 15, 1-8. Retrieved

from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1060085.pdf