Reflection 1-Chapter 1 Culture

Review – What did you learn?

            In reading chapter 1 I learned that the meaning of culture has significantly changed since I learned its meaning in elementary school. I remember reading about culture in my Social Studies books and it was defined as the beliefs and customs of a particular group. As time has evolved, culture has taken on a whole new definition. Jana Noel defines culture as “a way of seeing, perceiving, and believing” in her book, Developing Multicultural Educators. Culture is more of people’s beliefs and understanding of the world around them. Culture is what helps each of us develop as a person and provides us with a sense of belonging.

            I learned that there are three needs that a person requires to be met by their culture. These needs are known as Maslow’s hierarchy according to Noel. In the lowest level we have the lowest level of the hierarchy which are the basic needs that we need as people; physiological needs and safety needs, which I take to mean our basic needs of food and shelter. Then there is the second level in which one needs love, a sense of belonging, and a sense of esteem that is developed when one realizes that there are others that share our beliefs, views, and perspectives. The top level is the need for self-actualization. Here is where our culture develops our sense of what is important in society, what is acceptable and unacceptable.

            There are also different components of culture that include communication styles, organizational styles, and intellectual styles. Each of these styles influences the culture that students bring to school and how one interacts in social and professional groups. Edward T. Hal also mentions that cultures view and interact differently in their environment, social surroundings, and organizational networks. 

Reflect – What did it mean to you?

            I definitely think that culture is how one sees and perceives, and one’s believe in the society that he lives in. To me culture starts at home with how one is/was raised and what one learned from his parents and family.  Culture develops over time and can even change over time. “In Hall’s concepts of high and low context, cultures can be described based on how they interact with their context- their environment, their social surroundings, and the organizational networks within their setting” (Noel, 2008). It is my opinion that one’s culture can change based on the context that one is in. Many times our actions are different depending if we are in a social setting verses a professional setting. One has different cultural actions depending on one’s context. It is also important to value and accept the beliefs of other’s culture. That is how one continues to change and reflect on one’s own cultural beliefs.

Refine – How will you use the information in your classroom?

            It is hard to think of each student’s culture in my classroom and I think that is why there are such huge discontinuities between home and school cultures. I think that as a teacher it is very important to know our student’s culture and to learn to value and accept each student’s different believes. I think that the best way that I can use what I have learned about culture in this chapter is to allow my students to talk and share things about their cultures, whether it is what he eats, the language he speaks, or the traditions that he has with his family. I think that through speaking, sharing, and being opened to different things my students will be able to learn many new things and their beliefs can be expanded to different levels. I want my students to know that there are different things in the world and that not one way is right. Just like we learn in math that there is more than one way to get to the right answer; there is more than one way of life.