Working With Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students Chapter 9 Cultural Differences in the Mainstream Classroom Cultures differ from one to along the following dimensions (Brown & Lundrum-Brown, 1995). Axiology – The interpersonal values held by members of a cultural group. Ethos – The beliefs that guide social interactions among members of a cultural group. Epistemology – Ways of knowing and learning. Accommodating Cultural Differences in the Classroom It is very important that you learn the cultural background of your students in order to build a report with the students. Learning cultural backgrounds can be achieved by doing the following: Read about students’ home cultures. Talk with family members to find out about their home literacy practices. Talk with community members or colleagues who are familiar with students’ home cultures. Linguistic Differences in the Mainstream Classroom Cultural Diversity and Linguistic Diversity are two different things. Linguistic differences refer to the different languages of different ethnic groups. Languages and Dialects. Often times different socio-economic classes have different dialects. There has been a great debate over the past few years about the following: Ebonics – Is it a dialect or is it incorrect grammar? Should we accommodate non-standard dialects within the classroom? How does English Compare to Other Languages? There are certain aspects of the English language that make it difficult to learn. The English language has more sounds than any other language. There are as many as 3x more sounds in the English language than any other. Consider the following aspects when analyzing the English language: Phonology Morphology Syntax How does English Compare to Other Languages? Aspects of the English Language Cont’d Pragmatics Writing Systems What Do We Do to Support English Language Development in the Mainstream Classroom? Make the classroom a space that is conducive to learning for English language learners. Provide “comprehensible input”. Encourage language production by English language learners. Draw English language learners’ attention to linguistic forms. Include home languages in the mainstream classroom. Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students When assessing English language learners it is very necessary to have modifications in the following areas: Presentation of the test Response to test questions Setting Timing/Scheduling Reinforcement References .

1. Working With Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
Chapter 9
Cultural Differences in the Mainstream Classroom
Cultures differ from one to along the following dimensions
(Brown & Lundrum-Brown, 1995).
Axiology – The interpersonal values held by members of a
cultural group.
Ethos – The beliefs that guide social interactions among
members of a cultural group.
Epistemology – Ways of knowing and learning.
Accommodating Cultural Differences in the Classroom
It is very important that you learn the cultural background of
your students in order to build a report with the students.
Learning cultural backgrounds can be achieved by doing the
following:
Read about students’ home cultures.
Talk with family members to find out about their home literacy
practices.
Talk with community members or colleagues who are familiar
with students’ home cultures.

2. Linguistic Differences in the Mainstream Classroom
Cultural Diversity and Linguistic Diversity are two different
things. Linguistic differences refer to the different languages of
different ethnic groups.
Languages and Dialects. Often times different socio-economic
classes have different dialects. There has been a great debate
over the past few years about the following:
Ebonics – Is it a dialect or is it incorrect grammar?
Should we accommodate non-standard dialects within the
classroom?
How does English Compare to Other Languages?
There are certain aspects of the English language that make it
difficult to learn. The English language has more sounds than
any other language. There are as many as 3x more sounds in the
English language than any other.
Consider the following aspects when analyzing the English
language:
Phonology
Morphology
Syntax

3. How does English Compare to Other Languages?
Aspects of the English Language Cont’d
Pragmatics
Writing Systems
What Do We Do to Support English Language Development in
the Mainstream Classroom?
Make the classroom a space that is conducive to learning for
English language learners.
Provide “comprehensible input”.
Encourage language production by English language learners.
Draw English language learners’ attention to linguistic forms.
Include home languages in the mainstream classroom.
Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
When assessing English language learners it is very necessary
to have modifications in the following areas:
Presentation of the test
Response to test questions
Setting
Timing/Scheduling
Reinforcement

4. References