BAE Module 2 Lesson 3
BAE Module 2 Lesson 3
Multicultural Literacy
This lesson familiarizes the learners with multicultural literacy. Topics such as
issues in teaching and learning multicultural literacy in the Philippines and the
likes will be discussed as well.
Express your idea on the picture through a short poem of your choice.
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Answer the question before proceeding to the discussion.
1. Why do you think the picture has the title of discrimination? Explain
your answer.
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MULTICULTURAL LITERACY
In America
o it has very strong learnings toward knowing or identifying the poly-ethnic
origins of knowledge with the express goal of fostering equality,
diversity, and social justice.
In Europe
o Comes more in the form of intercultural communication competence
(ICC) as a composite of skills, abilities, attitudes, personality patterns,
etc, necessary for clear and productive communication with cultures
other than our town.
2. Know that good and useful things can (and do) come from those
different from us – Hand-in-hand with a dismissive attitude toward another
culture is the idea that nothing good can come from them. Furthermore, there
is a tendency to ignore or outright dismiss evidence to the contrary. Simply
acknowledging that good ideas and products have come from cultures we might
not like goes a long way in preparing our minds to perceive them as being
equally valuable.
4. Accept that there are limits – at some point however, one or both cultures
will be unwilling/unable to adjust their wants for the sake of the other any further.
Beyond this point, the productivity of the interaction drops and one must either
change the purpose of interaction or walk away, accepting that what you want
cannot be had from that particular source. Attempting to force the other party
to adjust (when you refuse to do the same) only results in misunderstanding,
hurt, and conflict. The sooner we accept this; the sooner we can set realistic
expectations of one another.
When all is said and done, the heart of multicultural literary is peace among
different cultures – that is, productive and non-violent interaction. It is easy to
assume that all cultures value peace to the same degree and are therefore
willing to make the same compromises in order to attain it, but this is not
necessarily true.
But it might seem that the answer to the question is a simple one: for peace.
But as we have seen earlier, not everyone values peace to the same degree.
What if, for a certain culture, it is easier to just destroy anyone who opposes
them rather than expend the effort needed to come to a mutual understanding?
A majority in multicultural literacy stems from the West, specifically the
United States, and focuses on teaching teachers to be more multicultural in
their pedagogies.
Learn about other cultures. Banks (1991) posits that the first step to
teaching multiculturalism is knowing about cultures that are not your
own. It follows that if you, the teacher, know only your own culture, then
you will be unable to teach your student to appreciate a culture that is
different from your own.
Simply put, if you do not truly believe that those who are different have
value equal to your own, it will show, and your students will detect it. It will be
seen in the words you use, in the expression on your face, in the change of
your behavior when you think no one can see, etc. the converse is also true: If
you do believe others have value equal to your own, no matter what their social
class, educational background, skin color, or regional accent, it will show; and
what is shown is what students will learn.
Model more, tell more. Young students, by nature, will have difficulty in
exercising empathy toward those who are different from them. The ability
is there, but it will naturally lack practice. It is therefore not enough that
teachers tell them to be more compassionate – you, the teacher, must
model for them what empathy and compassion for others look like on a
day-to-day basis.
I can see that you learned well in our today’s topic. You were able to create a
poem using a picture and you were also able to express your thoughts about
your own discriminatory practices. Great job!
I think you are much ready for the next lesson which is about social literacy.