One’s mindset, one’s perspective, and one’s paradigm influence the way one appreciates and deals with what is real and true around him. Citing an example, two boys were placed in different barns. The first boy was placed in a very clean and wonderful barn where anyone would enjoy moving and playing around but the first boy said it looked gloomy because it was spacious and it looked empty for him that the existence of the few animals on it seemed futile for him to see. While the second boy was placed in a barn where the first thing he saw was animal manure but instead of complaining, having to see the manure on his first glance, it was a pre-empt of an animal that he would see, he was enthusiastic to look for the horse. The thought of riding on it enveloped him as he gushed with excitement, for him the barn meant a haven and a fun place. Reflecting on that very simple example, we can say that the mindset or perception of a person affects the way he appreciates and identifies with the reality or truth around him.
It
is inevitable for us to ask how can a teacher handle a class with students
having different learning styles? Like what Sir John Ivers said, “ Education is
a wash in the sea of boredom.” This draws from the mindset that time won’t
come back so a teacher should use time wisely by exhausting all his means to
prepare teaching materials and activities that are engaging, productive, and meaningful
in achieving the learning objectives. The teacher needs to monitor his learners
so he can help them in the best way possible. He needs to continuously evaluate
his teaching strategies and tools whether they are relevant to the needs of the
learners. Considering the various learning styles, the teacher must continue to
research and upgrade activities that can address the learners who are visual,
auditory, reading and writing, and bodily-kinesthetic. How can a teacher manage
a class with students from different cultural backgrounds? The students are
vulnerable to experiencing various emotions when they are mingling with
classmates or peers taking into consideration their cultural paradigms. An
example of this, Americans insult their friends or make fun of them, it is a
sign of closeness or tightness of bond while for other cultures, it would be
an immensely degrading act to do this. People have different cultural paradigms
and what must a teacher do in order to help a better encounter in a class instead
of expecting misunderstanding, misinterpretation, disagreement, or alienation. A
teacher must be a clever person with colossal experiences and knowledge about
the different cultures in order to address such issues or problems that would arise
by continuously taking time with them and assuring them that even they are
different from each other, they should seek to understand and be understood.
The learners should bear one another and have the zest for knowledge to learn
about how others think and feel. This develops sympathy and apathy with each
other. A great teacher is a facilitator and guide to students to be better
classmates, peers, and friends.
I come from the Philippines and as a Filipino, I am generally and
culturally raised to work hard and take things seriously. I am often sensitive
to words and jokes. I also take feedback seriously and comments or feedback
threw at me linger for a long time. But as I mature and also from our lesson
on culture paradigm, I have realized that things should not always be taken
seriously instead take things in a positive way. I should always consider what
can make me better and turn out an improved person by comprehending the kind of
persons I am dealing with and not immediately jumping to conclusions. Besides
if I react hastily and conclude right away, I may be sweating the small stuff. I
also need to share this with my fellow compatriots this insight and be a good
example so they will also have an open mind and learn to adjust for the common
good.
What would you advise a parent who is concerned that his
or her child can have a culture shock in school?
What would you advise a teacher to help prevent the learners from experiencing culture shock?
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