Teach English in Gucheng Zhen - Shuozhou Shi

“Why is it important for teachers to be culturally aware and sensitive in the classroom?” In today’s global world, societies are no longer as homogeneous as they used to be. As people from different cultures and places immigrate to new countries, they inevitably become a part of a larger education system. As these new students enter the classroom, it is vital for teachers not only recognize the heterogeneity of their students but also embrace what background their students bring. In the past, many teachers were trained to only teach and cater to a small group of similar students who came from similar upbringings and families. As societies continue to welcome people from all over, teachers should learn to become more culturally aware and sensitive in order to guide their students’ learning development, create a safe space in their classroom and also take advantage of learning opportunities. Regardless of the age of the students teachers are guiding, students are continually changing and developing in conjunction to the people around them. In particular, middle school and high school students are prone to identity and cultural development in their adolescent years as they explore social relationships, academic hardships and self-identification. Relating to my own personal experience, I myself had a turning point in understanding who I was and I wanted to be as an Asian-American in a homogeneous community when I was in middle school and high school. At the time, I had a few teachers who became my mentor and guided my learning – in academics and in life. By being aware of my Asian background, my teachers helped me connect my perspectives with the content that I learned in the classroom. In this way, I felt represented and not alone despite being a minority within my community. This cultural awareness helped me to be more confident in myself which led to a confidence in my academic aspirations. On a more general note, teachers understand that students are more productive and comfortable in classrooms that are deemed “safe spaces”. While there is not formula when creating a “safe space”, cultural awareness and sensitivity are often factors to consider. If students do not feel like their cultural background and/or values are being appreciated or even considered, students are less inclined to speak up and participate in class. While teachers do not have to agree with all cultural values in the classroom, cultural sensitivity inevitably ties back to having respect – between students and teachers. When students feel like they are being listened to, not only is a sense of respect established, but there is more motivation for the students to contribute and make an impact in the classroom in their academic learning and relationship building. Lastly, if teachers are culturally aware, they will also understand the beauty in difference. In the poem “Human Family” by Maya Angelou, she teaches the notion that “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike”. Students should feel that they are more alike than different – that everyone is working towards success and learning, whatever that may be for the individual. However, even if there are noticeable differences, in particular in culture, there are opportunities for students to discuss and learn from each other. In particular, debates can get heated when cultural values comes into play (i.e. Prior to the mid-1900’s, infanticide was still prominent in the Inuit group in the polar regions. Is infanticide immoral?). Such debates can lead to potential disrespect and insensitive commentary and thus many teachers stray away from such types of debates. Yet, with the right scaffolding and ground rules, teachers can create a fruitful discussion that fosters critical thinking, empathy and cross-cultural understanding. All in all, in a day like today, it is almost impossible for teachers to lead a successful group of students without understanding who they are teaching. More so than just seeing students are learning receptacles, students need to be viewed as people with human emotion and culture. With cultural awareness and sensitivity, teachers evolve to become more than just “teachers” who instill knowledge in lesson plans and course books – they become educators, mentors and guides in life.