Mod 7 Discussion: Cross Cultural Awareness

To highlight cultural awareness in my journalism classroom, I try my best to embrace and celebrate the diverse backgrounds and viewpoints of my students. Introducing multicultural content into the curriculum, like exploring news stories from various cultures or delving into global journalism practices, shows my students how their own experiences connect to our classroom.  For example, I recently introduced an article from Germany in our lesson, originally written in German and translated by Angie, one of my international students, with the help of a couple of her peers. This wasn't just about showcasing Angie's German heritage; it was about honoring her home language. Witnessing her cultural identity being respected and acknowledged had a clear positive effect on her which was evident by her expression. Throughout the class, Angie was all smiles, highlighting the importance of these types of activities in creating a classroom environment where all students feel safe and respected. It was a really good lesson for my native English speakers as well: seeing her come out of her shell made them happy too! By honoring and integrating cultural diversity into my classroom, my goal is to empower students to recognize themselves as capable and confident learners who bring valuable perspectives to our journalism class.