Complex, comforting, and ever-changing, our culture influences all we do. Most of our core values remain at the unconscious level until we find ourselves in situations that spur emotional responses. Excitement, anger, fear, and intrigue are all ways people respond as they encounter the world around them. As humans, we learn more about ourselves from the non-examples of our culture than we do thinking about our everyday practices. During cross-cultural conflicts, we have the opportunity to reflect on why we believe what we believe, and why we do what we do. We open our minds to other perspectives and challenge ourselves to see the world from another lens. Through this process, we discover who we are, what drives our passions, and what influences all that is important to us. Whether we agree in the end or not, conflict leads to revelation...a lesson learned and a deepening of our self awareness. As our English Learners navigate the culture of school, it is important for us to be aware of what it feels like to encounter experiences outside of our comfort zone. When we can empathize with what it feels like to navigate the unknown, we are able to advocate for our students as they do the same. Students come to us with varying strengths, backgrounds, and circumstances. Some will walk into school the first day and rise to the challenge. Others may require more strategic support to address culture shock, misconceptions, and at times frustration. The resources below are designed to help students transition from a seemingly foreign environment to what will eventually feel like home. Would it freak you out if you came to school one day and all of your teachers were dressed as Lego people? ;) #CultureMoment
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI am an ESL Teacher that firmly believes that the more we learn about the cultures around us, the more we discover about our own. Archives
May 2018
Categories |