« Art and Culture: A Natural Connection that Builds Understanding | Home | How Teachers, Parents and Community Members Can Work Together to Enrich our Classrooms »
Using Cross Cultural Communication to Improve Relationships
By Danielle Miles | May 10, 2009
-When I hear students use the phrase “common sense” or “it’s just good manners” (code words for the dominant group’s values and norms) I can ask them “Whose common sense?” or “Whose idea of manners?”
-Explain the concept of ethnocentrism with colorful historical examples. Then have kids share differences they’ve noticed between the way their family does things and the way other families do things. Have discussion about how we are often more comfortable with certain ways because we are more familiar with them, and tend to believe those ways are better simply because we are more familiar with them.
-Have discussions about what stereotyping is, ask the kids about their experiences being stereotyped and to try to identify what lasting effects those stereotypes had on them, their situation, the people around them, etc. Talk about the dangers of stereotyping, and the effects it has on society, opportunities, and even self-concepts.
- An EXCELLENT RESOURCE:
“Nonviolent Communication: A language of Life” By Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg. Breaks communicating through conflict down to it’s roots and shows how we can address and find creative ways to meet our own needs and learn to hear what others are feeling and needing as well.
Topics: Uncategorized |