Cross Cultural Awareness

1. Cross Cultural Awareness By: Starlet Taylor

2. Global Learning • Global education is “an effort to cultivate in young people a perspective of the world which emphasizes the interconnections among cultures, species, and the planet”(NCSS, 1982, pp. 1-2). • According to Merryfield, “ it develops the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are necessary for decision-making and effective participation in a world characterized by interconnectedness, cultural pluralism, and increasing competition for resources.”(p. 4)

3. Components of Global Learning There are five components to global learning. • Cross Cultural Awareness • Perspective Consciousness • State of Planet Awareness • Systems Connectedness • Option for Participation

4. Cross Cultural Awareness • Cross Cultural Awareness is the diversity of ideas of different cultures found in societies all over the world. • It consists of concepts of how others may view one’s own culture due to preconceived notions.

5. Levels of Culturally Awareness • Parochial stage-My way is the only way • Ethnocentric stage-I know their way, but my way is better • Synergistic stage-MyWay and Their Way • Participatory Third Culture stage-Our Way

6. Ways to manage Cultural Awareness • Admit that you don’t know • Suspend judgments • Empathy • Become comfortable with ambiguity • Celebrate diversity.

7. Impact on Students • Culturally awareness will prepare our students to become great people. • It will allow the students to respect other cultures. • They will become culturally diverse.

8. Challenges • Students may be treated differently by other students because of their culture. • Students may have a hard time forming friendships due to cultural differences. • Learning may not occur if the teacher is not culturally aware. • Students may feel depressed, neglected, and lonely.

9. Integration through Unit of Study • Allowing students to conduct research about different countries • Students performing in plays about different holidays celebrated across the world. • Videos about different cultures • Reading books and taking notes about different cultures. • Informational papers over different cultural topics such as home life, holidays, famous leaders, foods, etc.

10. Integration through other disciplines • All about me posters created by students • Family night-parents share stories about their cultures • United Nations day-students dress up in their native attire • World food potluck-students bring a popular dish from their country

11. Culturally Awareness Resources • http://www.kulturekids.org/fun-stuff-to-do/games/ • http://www.pbs.org/kcts/preciouschildren/diversity/read_activities.html • http://www.kidactivities.net/category/diversitymulti-cultural.aspx • http://www.globalawareness.com/for-kids/

12. References. • https://softchalkcloud.com/lesson/files/67gUxj52Q0sAd/Going_Global_in_Early__Childhood_Education[1].pdf • http://www.culturosity.com/articles/whatisculturalawareness.htm • Merryfield, M.M., Jarchow, E., & Pickert, S.(Eds.). 1997 Preparing teachers to teach global perspectives. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. • National Council for Social Studies(NCSS). (1982). Position Statement on education. Washington, DC: Author.