MTSU Multicultural Education Social & Economic Lives and Cognitive Learning Discussion

MODULE 5 DISCUSSION

• Submit one original post. Discussion is worth 10 points.
• You must thoughtfully answer one of the following case study questions in your original post (and then one question from the list that follows).
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Case Study 2

Mr. Jilka is a sixth-grade teacher with an ethnically diverse classroom. One-fourth of the class is white, one-fourth is African American, one-fourth is Asian, and one-fourth is Mexican-American. Recently, two Mexican students, Jesus and Juanita, have begun to miss two or three days a week. In addition to a pattern of absences, Jesus has stopped turning in his homework. Juanita has begun to do poorly on classroom assignments and often stares out the window during class. Prior to this, Jesus and Juanita had been enthusiastic students despite the fact that English is their second language. Mr. Jilka is not sure what action to take. However, he did overhear Juanita telling another Mexican-American student that her father had lost his job and has been unable to find a new one close to home.

Discussion Question:

If you were in Mr. Jilka’s position, how would you respond to this situation? Cite the textbook.

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Then you must thoughtfully answer one of the following questions in your original post:

(Please give the number of the question you are answering in the subject line of your post.)

1. Discuss how workplaces in the United States can better adapt to increasing diversity. Do you think that diversity training in American workplaces actually works? Does the video “The Unequal Opportunity Race” accurately reflect American workplaces? Explain. Cite the textbook and/or another source.

2. Compare and contrast negotiation strategies from culture to culture. Cite the textbook and/or another source. 

3. In what ways do your current classroom settings embody American cultural values? 

For example, chapter 10 in the textbook discusses how some cultures favor competition (individualism) over cooperation (collectivism). Which do you see in the American classroom? Examples? Some cultures favor tolerance over intolerance for ambiguity. Which do you see in the American classroom? Examples? Some cultures favor dependency over independency. Which do you see in the American classroom? Examples? Cite the textbook and/or another source.

4. How can multicultural education be effective if it must assist students with a variety of cognitive learning styles and language differences? How can educators help to address diversity in language and in learning styles? Cite the textbook and/or another source.

5. How would high levels of ethnocentrism affect the intercultural healthcare setting? Consider what we have already learned about ethnocentrism, and consider the chapter 10 discussion of healthcare contexts to answer this question. What are some specific examples of mishaps caused by ethnocentrism and what are some specific guidelines for approaching individuals of various cultures in the health care setting? Cite the textbook or “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” and/or another source.

6. Describe the following medical belief systems: Supernatural/Magico/Religious Tradition, Holistic Tradition, and Scientific/Biomedical Tradition. Why might it be important to incorporate more than one medical belief system into the treatment of patients in a multicultural health care setting? Cite the textbook and/or another source. How does “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” represent potential issues in the American health care system?

7. How might cultural diversity in language complicate the healthcare setting? Consider what we have already learned about language in chapter 8, and the Language and Healthcare section in chapter 10. What solutions would you propose to lessen the effects of language barriers in healthcare settings? Cite the textbook and/or another source.

8. From your perspective, what is white privilege, and how does it appear in your life? How does white privilege impact intercultural interactions in business, education, and/or healthcare settings? Cite the DiAngelo video and/or another source.

• You must thoughtfully respond at least twice to your classmates or to me. Your response posts must add to the discussion.