You may have a number of learners from different cultural backgrounds in your program.
Culture influences many things we do. However, we often don’t notice this until we see someone else’s culture and observe the differences between our cultures. These differences have an impact on the way we tutor and the way our learners learn.
The following activities are designed to be discussions around culture. The discussions provide an opportunity for tutors to explore and express their own ideas. Respect all answers. However, there are some general cultural attitudes to consider. You should explore these cultural attitudes in relation to the types of learners you have in your program. The attitudes may be difficult to understand in the abstract form. Therefore, it is best to make them real for tutors.
You can do this by watching the video in which learners share their cultural beliefs and attitudes to learning or by using the alternate activity if the video isn’t available (see Activity C). Either will make concrete what would otherwise be abstract.
This activity allows tutors to explore the concept of culture through their own cultural backgrounds. You will find this especially useful if you have a number of ESL learners in your program.
To get a better understanding of how culture impacts our lives, look over the following information.
The nine universals of culture
This information is based on Lori Herod’s Learning Styles and Strategies.
The following components make up a person’s culture:
Arts – literature, plays, recreation
Material – clothing, food, transportation
Social organization – families, relationships
Communication – written and verbal
Social control – justice system, government, laws
Education – both formal and informal
Economic organization – trade, labour, property, business
World view – religion, values, belief system
Conflict and warfare – conflict resolutions, defence practices