Module 3 Discussion: Moving Students Into a New Culture

I am from Jamaica located in the Caribbean, and the culture is very different from the US culture. So I can recall a time when I was visiting one of my friends at their home, and they were able to talk back to their parents. I literally almost pee in my pants because I just knew this was very disrespectful in my culture and kids do not have any say. So I was bracing myself that my friend did not get hit in front of me. But later I realize that kids in the US do have a say, which I think can be both good and bad, and their parents listen to them speak. See in my culture, you are told to do something and there are no other alternatives, you must follow the rules. 

How I orient myself to the new culture was easy, deep down I thought of freedom, kids were able to voice their opinions without any repercussions, and I kindly told my Mom who said she did not agree and would not accept a child saying anything to her, which is disrespectful. So I just like that fact that kids are allowed to speak freely without any consequences.

I am very sensitive about my ELL students, because I embrace cultures in my classroom, and love when my ELL students share their culture and let students communicate in small groups where they are learning together and sharing their own background experience.