Multiculturalism and Strategies to Empower the Classroom

Multiculturalism in the Classroom
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December 26, 2021
Understanding the importance of a multicultural approach to education is essential for any educator. It allows him to utilize the appropriate strategies to deal with issues in the classroom and provide a holistic approach to student education. Accordingly, this paper will focus on using a multicultural approach to education in the Western classroom. The idea behind this paper is founded on studies showing the lack of a multicultural approach in Western classrooms in what is supposedly a culturally diverse country like Canada. The author believes that it is essential to create and foster critical learning and thinking within the classroom setting regarding cultural diversity.
Critical Learning and Thinking within the Classroom Setting
One of the most critical aspects of building a multicultural approach within the classroom is to create an inclusive environment for students by establishing grounds for interaction. Specifically, classroom environments should have specific ground rules that foster cultural diversity rather than homogeneity. In the film entitled Welcome to Canada by Loften and Fowles (2016), the authors have shown the life of Mohammed Alsaleh and his experiences as he sought refuge in Canada. Knowing how difficult it was to settle in a new land, he also helped and recalled the experiences of others who were forced to flee from their homelands to a new nation. However, despite the openness of the Canadian government in accepting refugees, it was shown how vital sympathy and understanding are in helping others who are still trying to adapt to a new environment.
Going back to the idea of multiculturalism, it could be seen that it is important to create an inclusive classroom for students because it allows them to adapt to the new environment without feeling left alone. An inclusive environment would promote one's identity as it adapts to the new social identity in the classroom, rather than forcing students to act and think in line with the norm. In one study done by Humiston et al. (2020), the authors noted that an inclusive environment is essential in creating hegemony within the classroom, even in online settings. This is beneficial considering that cultural differences that create microaggressions, implicit bias, and imposter syndrome, among others, could still arise between students even in the classroom setting.
Another effective strategy that could be used in the classroom setting is to use inclusive languages. Studies show that inclusive languages, which focus on using proactively welcoming words, effectively foster critical thinking regarding cultural differences CITATION Abu16 \l 1033 (Abu Rass, 2016). This is because inclusive languages allow students to become aware that their peers who have different cultural identities are just the same as them regardless of the language they speak or the religion they believe in. On...