Image

That is cause for celebration — it can create a rich learning environment that draws from a diverse range of cultures. But it can also create challenges and misunderstandings.

To do their jobs well, educators need to understand their students’ lives and cultures. This involves skills we often downplay in Western culture: the art of listening and asking questions with humility.

One New York City teacher discussed his assumption that one of his middle school students was lazy or bored because he was sleeping in class. A call home uncovered the nature of the problem: the student’s mom worked the night shift, leaving him with no supervision and, on occasion, locked out of his own apartment when he forgot his key.

Being open-minded in your teaching and attentive to individual students and their circumstances are key to cultural competency.

There are many strategies for gaining knowledge. Morning meetings, students’ writing assignments and conversations with parents or guardians are all opportunities to gain insights into your students’ lives outside the classroom.

Remember to ask questions. Don’t use your parent-teacher conference solely to tell; it’s also a valuable opportunity to learn. Where does Jasmine do her homework? How long has the family lived in New York?

Here are some tips to increase cross-cultural communication in your school or workplace:

• Be aware of your own cultural lens as well as the different cultural backgrounds of your students.
• Research the cultural backgrounds of your students by reading and speaking with other members of those cultures. Learn about the meaning of nonverbal communication and gestures in different cultures.
• If you assign work requiring Internet access, allow students computer access in school.
• Make it convenient for parents to get involved.
• Keep school supplies on hand so you can give to those who need them quietly, without drawing attention.
• Develop curricula that are meaningful to students’ lives and can be a springboard for discussions of students’ experiences and surroundings.
• Look for free cultural opportunities for class trips.
• Celebrate diversity in your teaching.

Here are additional resources on cultural competency.