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Top Four Tips to be a great multicultural teacher!

We rarely come across classrooms that aren’t multicultural. In fact, multicultural classrooms are so common that we don’t look at them any differently. If you’re a teacher, we are happy to tell you that a multicultural classroom is a powerful way to learn about the world. While most of our articles feature tips on how to make children aware about multiculturalism, this article focuses on the teacher. If you would like to be a confident multicultural teacher, read these top four tips.

Do your research

At the start of the year, do a little background research into the countries and communities your students are from. Read up on how teacher-student relationships are perceived in different countries. For example, in Asia countries like India and China, the teaching path is focused on the teacher. Children are taught to be respectful and accepting of the teacher. So, children of Indian immigrants are not comfortable with asking too many questions. They need to be encouraged to open their minds and explore. In western nations like America, for instance, the teaching path is planned around the student. Children are expected to find their own paths, and are encouraged to question and challenge existing assumptions.

Understand the family

Family units play a very important role in a child’s life. But these roles are different according to the communities. It is good practice to understand how different families work. This will help when it comes to approaching them for school or child related issues. For example, Latino families enjoy strong family bonds. They are close to their immediate as well as extended families. Among some families, traditional gender roles may still be very strong. So when dealing with a Latino student, it helps to reach out to their families also.

Books like My Home in Kakadu, We Have a Baby, Yafi's Family Book etc look at families from different cultures through the eyes of little ones.

Learn about their taboos

Many a time, a teacher might come across a taboo that he/she doesn’t understand or didn’t know existed. For instance, it is forbidden for young Muslim girls and women to leave their heads uncovered. If you’re in a classroom situation where another child asks an awkward question about the hijab that a Muslim child is wearing, you have to be in a position to deal with the situation. So, as a teacher spend some time thinking about taboos and what they mean. What are the various forms that taboos take – euphemisms, slang, formal and informal language, body language, and politically correct expressions etc.

Our RaFa RaFa Cultural / Power Simulation Game brings taboos under observation through a fun game that involves children but is good for adults too.

Symbols

Various cultures use a variety of symbols to express themselves. For the Chinese, an umbrella has negative connotations. The Chinese word for umbrella sounds very much like “break apart”, so it is not considered a good sign to receive an umbrella as a gift. Similarly, in the African culture, a doll is not just a doll. It has religious and ritualistic associations within the community. In Africa, when a man places a doll outside a woman’s hut, he is showing his intention to propose marriage to her. When a young woman is preparing for marriage, she is given a doll that she names and cares for. Her first child is then named for the doll. If you would like to discuss this with other teachers or children, consider using our Ndebele Initiation Dolls.

These might seem like very simple tips, but they are crucial to any teacher setting foot into the multicultural classroom. An aware teacher is an awesome teacher!

Article written on behalf of Global Kids Oz by Annie Besant