Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR)

Vol-3, Issue-2, 2017

ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Teaching Strategies in a Multicultural Classroom

Prachi Nadda
Research Scholar, Department Of Education, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla.
communities. It challenges all form of discrimination
Abstract : India is a country of diverse in schools and societies through the promotion of
cultures, traditions and languages in democratic principles of equality and social justice.
which these change not only from state to Multicultural education is a process that involves all
state but also at times even at village level. aspects of school practices, policies and organizations
A multicultural classroom is one in which to ensure not only the highest level of academic
there is a blend of students from various achievement but also the all-round development of
cultures to form a diverse learning the children’s
environment. Where culture not only personality. It helps the students develop a positive self-
includes tradition and religion but also concept by providing knowledge about the histories,
races, language, socio-economic level, cultures, traditions and contributions of diverse group of
ethnicity and living conditions. To people.
combine all these in a classroom involves
lots of creativity and management skills on 2. MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION:
the part of the teachers. In the present INDIAN CONTEXT
paper various teaching strategies have
been discussed namely: role playing, India is culturally, linguistically, religiously and
cooperative learning, exposure to different ethnically one of the most diverse countries in the world.
language culture, group discussions, The multicultural experience is represented in what is
community participation, knowledge of called “unity in diversity”.
student background, moving beyond text This includes the diversity of religious communities,
book etc which may help teachers in a languages, ethnicities and traditions and cultures of various
multicultural classroom setting. Therefore
states. Parekh (2000) while describing India’s diversity
by creating a multicultural environment in
mentioned India has a common criminal law but not a civil
the classroom the teacher is of advantage
law. To focus on the concept of “multiculturalism” is a
for diverse background students because
matter of exigency for the harmonious and progressive
the payoff is worth the efforts because each
student learns acceptance and the future of India, as it is for global classrooms worldwide.
importance of diversity Majority of classrooms in India contain students who
belong to different cultures, follow different beliefs,
customs and traditions, belong to different socio- economic
status and adhere to different sets of ideology. In education
1. INTRODUCTION this diversity has been viewed as both a negative and a
positive challenge. The school districts, educational
Multicultural education is a concept planners, school authorities and teachers have been hard
built on the ideals of freedom, justice, pressed to provide quality education for all. Multicultural
equality and human dignity which is education requires that schools acquaint students with the
mentioned in the Declaration of Human rich heritage of all groups, and also that educators
Rights and is adopted by the United understand that not all children are receptive to the same
Nations Organizations. It refers to any educational environment.
form of education that incorporates the
histories, texts, traditions, beliefs and Thus today one of the major challenges faced by
values of people from varied cultural teachers in the transaction of curriculum in the class is for
backgrounds. It recognizes the roles which these culturally different students. Although such students
schools can play in developing the values have always been a part of the Indian education system,
and attitudes necessary to sustain oneself they have not been a significant factor in the development
in the interdependent world of today. The of educational programs till as late as 2005 when National
education system values the cultural Curriculum Framework laid emphasis on it. The National
differences and reflects them through the Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005, designed syllabus
students, teachers and various which is child centered and friendly. It recognized that a

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 741

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR)
Vol-3, Issue-2, 2017
ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

child’s education should be stress free, full of 3. TEACHING STRATEGIES FOR A

creativity and should lead to a joyful experience MULTICULTURAL CLASSROOM
of learning. NCF further recognized five
guiding principles for curriculum development A multicultural classroom is one in which there is a
all centering on the child’s relationship with blend of students from various cultures to form a diverse
nature and environment. These principles are: learning environment. To combine all these in a classroom
(1) connecting knowledge to life outside the involves lots of creativity and management skills on the
school, (2)enriching the curriculum so that it part of the teachers. Therefore it is critical to make sure that
goes beyond textbooks, (3) ensuring that teachers have access to professional development
learning shifts away from the rote method, (4) programs that teach them to integrate vital information of
making exams more flexible and integrated with day to day happenings into their teachings. The teachers
classroom activities and (5) nurturing identity who are just starting to introduce multicultural content may
within democratic polity of the country. Besides find it difficult especially since overload might lead to
this the NCF (2005) also promotes other discouragement from trying it at all. Here is a discussion of
educational goals that focus on human values some teaching strategies which teachers may make use of
namely: a commitment to democracy and along with other methods to supplement their teaching in a
freedom, sensitivity to other persons, a flexible multicultural classroom.
and creative approach to learning and
appreciation of beauty and art forms as an ● Role playing
integral part of human life. In context of
Is a versatile activity that allows students to express
multicultural education NCF specifically lays
their opinion in a realistic situation. In role play the
down certain points namely: ▪ strengthening
students play a part they do not play in real life (eg:
national system of education in a pluralistic
enacting as parliamentarians, as banker’s or a role from
society,
work of literature). A multicultural role play exercise
▪ reducing the curriculum load based on insights allows students to be immersed in a social scenario that
causes them to experience feelings and realities that they
provided in “Learning without Burden”, may not otherwise be exposed to. Hence by organizing a
▪systematic changes in tune with curricular role play activity in the class the teacher can bring in issues
reforms, of the subjects related to caste, religion, current topics or
something related to history which are otherwise difficult
▪ curricular practices based on values enshrined to explain to the students in the class.
in the constitution, such as social justice,
equality and secularism, ● Exposure to different language and culture

▪ ensuring equality education for all children, ▪ Culture refers to the traditions, rituals, beliefs and values
that are common and shared amongst a group of people.
building a citizenry committed to democratic Every individual is a part of one culture or the other. Thus
practices, values and sensitivity towards gender the first goal of multicultural education should be to assist
justice, the children with recognizing differences as well as
similarities among fellow students. Allowing children to
▪ a renewed effort should be made to implement explore varying cultures creates opportunities for them to
the three language formula emphasizing the see that even when other students have different customs,
recognition of children’s home language or languages and traditions they also share some common
mother tongue as the best medium of traits. Students learn that people can be different and
instruction. ▪ the multilingual character of unique, yet still share a lot of common things. Such
Indian society should be seen as a resource for realizations help students to learn to accept differences and
the enrichment of school life. aid in eliminating prejudice and racism. These realizations
assist students to accept and respect people from all
Besides this the ministry of Human Resource cultures and backgrounds. Besides this children model
Development (2013) has focused on an what they see, so the teachers’ inclusion and acceptance of
inclusive agenda with a vision of realizing different ideas, customs, traditions and languages help
India’s human resource potential to its fullest, them to learn to accept and respect fellow students.
with equity and excellence.
● Knowledge of student’s background

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 742

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR)
Vol-3, Issue-2, 2017
ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

For a successful multicultural classroom become a challenging task. Thus the teachers should make
setting one of the most essential things is use of discussions on current topics which can initiate a
knowledge of diverse cultures. The teachers discussion and help develop students questioning power, in
should take out time to learn the background of depth analysis of situation and development of logical
the class students. Knowledge of the traditions, thinking.
beliefs, values, customs, food habits, economic
status etc helps in understanding the students in The above mentioned strategies help in linking the
a better way. This knowledge should then be theoretical knowledge gained by the students to real life
shared with children by incorporating them in situations. Besides this the teachers can also encourage
the learning experiences. The students should community participation in the classrooms by organizing
be encouraged to ask questions that help them special lectures and involving the parents in the teaching
understand more about others who have a learning process.
background different from their own. Teachers
and other educators may learn about other 4. CONCLUSION
cultures and then intentionally incorporate them Diversity in Indian schools is both an opportunity as well
in the learning experience. Besides this students as a challenge. The nation is enriched with cultural,
from different backgrounds may be given language, ethnic and socio cultural diversity which is
opportunities to discuss and share their cultural clearly visible in the school classrooms. As a result
experiences. ● Cooperative learning whenever these groups interact there may be tension,
After making the children accepts differences discrimination, hatred or prejudiced attitude towards one or
and similarities among fellow students the next the other. Therefore the schools must find ways to respect
step for the teacher should be to encourage the diversity of their students as well as help them to create
cooperative learning of various knowledge and a unified allegiance .In the present paper certain teaching
skills. The environment of the classroom should strategies were discussed which may be of use for teachers
help assist children from minority cultures in in a multicultural classroom setting. Therefore by creating
developing cooperation and social skills. The a multicultural environment in the classroom the teacher is
general idea behind cooperative learning is that of advantage for diverse background students because the
making small heterogeneous group of students payoff is worth the efforts as each student learns
so that they can master the various aspects of a acceptance and the importance of diversity.
particular task. By doing so not only are the
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR)
Vol-3, Issue-2, 2017
ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

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