Patricia Wiley (Oklahoma City Public Shools): 
Reflections on the students’ home cultures
When students walk into our classroom, they bring with them experiences that shape the way they view the world around them. These experiences also affect their expectations and behavior.
We would view our students not only as the individuals they are, but also as members of a culture worth knowing, acknowledging and respecting. We should also be aware that English language learners are, for the most part, recent immigrants. Many come as refugees, while others come in search of a better standard of living. Several of them may have experienced danger and other traumatic events prior to and during their journey into this country. Regardless of where these students come from and their reasons for coming, they have values, traditions and customs which have been transmitted to them from their parents, grandparents, and so on. Also, we should not take away what identifies and connects them to their families.
I encourage my students’ parents to come to our classroom when relevant to our lesson or unit. I also let my students bring pictures, or other artifacts they might want to share with the rest of the class or school.
In order to do all this successfully, I create in my classroom a safe and positive climate of respect, tolerance, and appreciation for other cultures as well as their own.
Dawana Coldwell (Paul’s Valley High School / Junior High):
Cultural Issues
Being a new teacher as well as a newcomer to take the world of ESL, I never realized how greatly culture affects how the students behave and respond when placed in an educational situation. I now realize that even though on the outside they may not seem all that different, that there are many underlying cultural issues and ideas.
In my classroom, all of the students are mature Spanish speakers, though some come from Mexico and others are from El Salvador. Even between these two countries, there are significant cultural differences. This is something that I have to keep in mind in order to avoid making general assumptions about “Hispanic” culture.
There are several ways that I am trying to let them express their beliefs and ideas related to their culture, while in the meantime, teach them about our language and culture. Each day, I take a few minutes at the end of class to let tell me what things they are experiencing, and I also ask them about their language and have them teach me about them in return. I have found that they are much more willing to learn another language or culture from someone who is equally interested in their language and culture.
Another activity that I am working on is to have them give a small presentation to the class about where they come from. I encourage them to use maps, pictures, and visuals. In return, I give a small presentation about where I come from and try to express a few of the beliefs and ideas basic to my family. At the end of the presentations we an excellent opportunity to compare and contrast our cultures, discussing the similarities and differences.
I would also like to have a project between my ESL class and the Spanish class. I think this would provide an excellent opportunity for them to interact with the English speaking students and to break down some of the cultural barriers. The project would include smaller group projects in which they work together and present different aspects of the culture such as language, music, food, and dance.
During the last several months I have also made an effort to not only keep culture in mind when dealing with the students, but I have realized that it is especially important when dealing with parents of another culture. I am trying to make a point to not only communicate with the parents about negative behavioral issues, but to keep the lines of communication open and compliment their children on their positive traits and characteristics as well.
I have learned that when working with ESL students it is absolutely essential to keep cultural differences in mind. Not only it is my responsibility to do so, but I think it is also important to inform and remind the other “mainstream” teachers that these cultural differences exist and to work not against them. I have also learned that cultural diversity also makes for a much more colorful, interesting classroom, and if I am aware of the differences that they can make for a wonderful educational environment.
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