Culture Clash in the Multicultural Classroom: A Case Study From a Newcomer School
(Holly Hansen-Thomas & SriPadmini Chennapragada, 2018)
URL: http://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v11n4p82
Recommendations:
● The students, as well as teachers, should be given sufficient training to understand how
to work in harmony in today’s interactive classrooms. While traditional mainstream
classes may not have the wide range of diversity as that in specialized newcomer
schools, it is nevertheless important to be vigilant and proactive with regard to cultural
awareness, understanding of students’ backgrounds, and anticipation of potential
conflicts. In this way, teachers and students can learn in and from each other in
harmony, or at the very least, in a positive environment.
● It is important to utilize culturally responsive teaching methods in all classrooms, but it is
critical to do so in classrooms characterized by superdiversity (Blommaert, 2013) such
as that at the NSA.
● It is vitally important to not only provide training to teachers in culturally responsive
education and knowledge regarding the specific cultures represented in our classes, but
also to maintain and keep up such training. With growing number of immigrants in United
States (and indeed, throughout the global community), it is critical to revisit the
configurations of students in today’s classrooms and acknowledge the differences
represented in the classes.
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Reflection:
In a culture-diverse society, we have always dreamed of a peaceful and united world: A
world where people meet, understand and respect each other's differences and live in harmony.
However, as the population grows, this makes it hard to keep everyone patient and
understanding. That is why I personally think multicultural contexts in a classroom setting should
be always present all across countries.
Not implementing this type of context will create several issues or clashes within diverse
people especially in the classroom where students are still in midst of a learning progress. Just
like the case study wherein it explained the cultural clashes between students due to lack of
knowledge in different cultures, these types of conflicts make it hard for one class to be in
harmony all throughout the school year. Most multicultural students are studying in the United
States, since some universities accept foreign students and that is how a type of classroom
was formed. There are instances when the teacher is not aware of everyone's cultural
differences and implements activities that makes it hard for some to grasp the lessons, and
eventually it affects their academic performance.
These issues and conflicts had given me realizations that as future educators of the
nation, a further knowledge of the students' background is one priority before entering the class
in order to create a classroom plan intended to create a fun learning mood within diverse-
cultured students inside the classroom. Implementing multicultural education encompasses
practices and theories that support equitable opportunities and academic achievement for all
students (Barndt, 2007) and teachers who unite classrooms with activities both inside and
outside of the classroom stand a better chance at boosting student achievement and
ameliorating the negative effects that have been observed in multicultural classrooms in the
past (Alsubaie, 2015)
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Implications:
● Education in the multicultural classroom should focus on the value of multiculturalism
and skills that contribute and encourage students to have trust amongst one another and
their teachers. Education must quickly adapt to a new cultural and educational
environment, and teachers should develop their academic skills. The students should
understand the importance of multiculturalism so they are able to make smart decisions
and practice in the future. Acclimation and awareness of multiculturalism in the
environment are important because this practice and awareness introduces new
thoughts and ideas to students. (Alsubaie, 2015)
● Aspiring educators should have prior knowledge about multiculturalism through a
webinar or training intended to practice multicultural education and awareness of cultural
diversity so that they could create a harmonious classroom environment through
planning of classroom activities to promote unity in diversity.
● Teachers will have to create a classroom strategies plan for multicultural students,
implement classroom activities that consider cultural differences and let the students
enjoy learning without much thought of being different with each other.
References:
Thomas, H. H. & Chennapragada, S. (2018) Culture clash in the multicultural classroom: A case
study from a newcomer school.. English Language Teaching, 11(4), 82.
doi:10.5539/elt.v11n4p82
Alsubaie, M. A. (2015) Examples of current issues in the multicultural classroom. Journal of
education and practice. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1081654
