Overcoming Teaching Challenges in Multicultural and Multilingual Classrooms
Kleanthis Kyriakidis, Evgenia Koikas, Hebatalla Elbahwashy
Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Society and Information Technologies: ICSIT 2024, pp. 47-53 (2024); https://doi.org/10.54808/ICSIT2024.01.47
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The 15th International Conference on Society and Information Technologies: ICSIT 2024
Virtual Conference March 26 - 29, 2024 Proceedings of ICSIT 2024 ISSN: 2771-6368 (Print) ISBN (Volume): 978-1-950492-77-0 (Print) |
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Abstract
Schooling nowadays still promotes the socio-cultural identities of the majority while marginalizing minority students. In this study, an effort will be made to justify intercultural education, illustrate the challenges of teaching in a multicultural classroom entail, and present the best teaching practices suitable to be employed in multicultural and multilingual classrooms. A challenge for educators, students, and their parents is that they should always remind themselves that when interacting with people with different cultural backgrounds, they also interact with other cultural worldviews. Such interactions are closely related to power dynamics, hidden networks of meanings, values, and expectations that may not be entirely recognized or comprehended. Furthermore, language barriers may lead to misunderstandings and even escalate to critical incidents, while the teacher should ensure that no culture/language is perceived as superior/inferior.
In order to overcome the teaching challenges in multicultural classrooms, the teachers should adopt a whole-child education approach and demonstrate a genuine interest in getting to know each student’s cultural background, hobbies, learning styles, and generally what makes them unique so as to form a bond with them and establish trust. Furthermore, teachers should strive to build a relationship with students based on equity and understanding so that students feel appreciated and comfortable with the teacher and inspired to follow their example of respecting all class members. |
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