Diversity Awareness

Social Justice Personal Inquiry

Question:
How diversity awareness can
strengthen a student sense of
belonging to the classroom?

Learning Intentions

What is diversity?
2.Rationale around diversity in our classrooms
3.The value of diversity
4. Diversity- Language- immigration (Recent research)
5.Hostile environment: Behaviors
6.Strategies: Increase your diversity awareness
1.

What is diversity?

Differences in physical attributes, religion, sexual orientation,

and other such characteristics.
It does involve differences in perception, ways of thinking,
feeling, beliefs, communication and behavior.
Diversity is defined as recognizing, appreciating and valuing
the unique talents and contributions of all individuals regardless
of demographics, physical appearances, social status,
communication style, culture, values and beliefs.

Diversity: Rationale around our

classrooms/ few statistics

1 of 6

Canada is a nation of immigrants.

In the last five years, Canada has admitted an average of over
250,000 new permanent residents each year. This is roughly 0.8
per cent of Canadas population (ref. http://www.cic.gc.ca).
The proportion of immigrants in Canada could reach slightly over
22% by 2017the highest level observed since the beginning of
the last century (1911 and 1931). (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub)
Children come here with their parents as dependants bringing a
rich cultural heritage that need to be valued and appreciated in our
schools.
Educators must develop awareness on diversity and comprehensive
strategies to facilitate their integration in the school system.

The Value of Diversity

The College of Education of the University of
Illinois, USA provides a great explanation in their
diversity policy:
We value the vast range of perspectives of individuals
of all backgroundsthat come togetherto inspire
new discussions that lead us to new avenuesand
exploration toward an inclusive and just future.
The question is how to facilitate learning and create an
environment conducive to learning among students
regardless of their backgrounds or heritage.

The Value of Diversity (cont.)

Celebrating diversity should be the norm for a more equal
society. When diversity is celebrated and chanted, there is a
greater level of comfort in communicating effectively in any
classroom setting.
A celebration of diversity in our classes will result in:
a healthy and dynamic learning environment
a sense of security and comfort and acceptance
a sense of belonging to a community of learners
a sense of self-worth and confidence
performance levels and growth are clearly observable
a positive image in the community

Diversity- Language- immigration

(Recent research)

One of the most recent studies on the construction of identity

is the Postructural theory (Pavlenko, 2001) stipulates that
identity is dynamic and multiple and that learners use speech
to establish their social position in the group ( Dagenais 2003;
Heller 2000; Norton 2000).

These studies show how the learners position in interactions

either grants him or her access to or excludes him or her from
social networks, depending on the positive or negative representations
associated with the learners identity. The connections between learning
languages, linguistic diversity and constructing identities are addressed by the
critical study of power relationships between individuals as well as their
representations of themselves and of others.

Hostile environment: Behaviors

Some few intentional or unintentional actions that could
lead to unacceptable behaviors and create unhealthy
interactions:
Ethnocentrism: a learned belief in cultural superiority.
We view our own group as the norm, the right one
and others in reference to our perceived right way.
Stereotypes: Categorizing a group of people and making
claims about the characteristics of all people who belong
to that group.
Racism: is categorizing people in terms of physical
traits.

Hostile environment: Behaviors (cont.)

Intolerance: is an unwillingness to tolerate the

existence of opinions or behaviors that differ from
your own. Being dogmatic.
Prejudice: negative attitude toward others based on
faulty stereotypes and causing irrational feelings of
dislike.
Discrimination: is unjust treatment of others. While
discrimination refers to behavior, prejudice refers to
attitudes or beliefs.

Strategies: Increase your diversity

awareness
Increasing your diversity awareness can help foster a healthy
climate in class.

Motivation: By developing a strong will or desire to overcome

hostile classroom behaviors, you can help alleviate the problem.
Being flexible and open to other people views.
Acknowledge your feelings and be honest with yourself!
Explore how your group is perceived in general and how you
perceive others.
Realize that you interpret/judge others through your own
cultural lens.

Strategies: Increase your diversity

awareness (cont.)

Knowledge:

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of

progress, in every society, in every family. Kofi Annan.

Getting to know others with an open mindset is

an excellent way to increase your diversity
awareness.
Asking questions with tact can be a direct way
to know others.
Develop a genuine interest in others and their
culture

Strategies: Increase your diversity

awareness (cont.)
Skills: the ability to do something well;
expertise. Oxford dictionaries.
There is a number of things that can make a
true difference in our perceptions of others:
1. Show empathy, compassion and respect
2. Use positive verbal communication:
3. Use active listening (look or not looking at the
person, nodding, paraphrasing, do not
interrupt, think of your posture, etc.)

Strategies: Increase your diversity

awareness (cont.)
2. Use appropriate non-verbal communication (look or
not looking at the person speaking, nodding, smile, tone
of voice, personal space if applicable)
Mirror (imitate the person actions---is he/she not
looking straight at you, do the same!)
Avoid any judgment! Use equality language vs.
Superiority language ( say: this is spicy but tasteful
instead of you eat that! Thats disgusting!) state facts
instead.

Strategies: Increase your diversity

awareness (cont.)

. Avoid sarcasms, inside jokes about others.

There is no excuse on saying she cant even
take a joke! I didnt mean to say or do
that! when you actually did hurt.
Show humility andmaybe learning a new
language can open new doors to more
understanding anddiversity awareness!

Conversation around diversity

awareness
Open discussion: Describe what better represent YOU.
Why? Is it a painful journey? Have you evolve in this
self-description overtime? Have you ever thought that
your perceptions about someone different were totally
wrong and why?
How do you feel now? What process do you have to
undergo? why?

Resources

1.
2.
3.
4. Languages and Immigration: raising awareness of language
and linguistics diversity in schools, Armand Francoise, Diane
Dagenais, Canadian Issues, (Spring 2005): 99-102
Etvoila!