ESL01 Developing Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
Course Description: As U.S. communities grow more diverse, this course helps educators develop cultural competence to overcome language and cultural barriers in schools. It covers multicultural behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes, along with strategies for working with English learners. Participants explore cultural awareness activities, cross-cultural conflicts, and conflict resolution relevant to K-12 classrooms and communities.
Course Description: As U.S. communities grow more diverse, this course helps educators develop cultural competence to overcome language and cultural barriers in schools. It covers multicultural behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes, along with strategies for working with English learners. Participants explore cultural awareness activities, cross-cultural conflicts, and conflict resolution relevant to K-12 classrooms and communities.
Course Description: As U.S. communities grow more diverse, this course helps educators develop cultural competence to overcome language and cultural barriers in schools. It covers multicultural behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes, along with strategies for working with English learners. Participants explore cultural awareness activities, cross-cultural conflicts, and conflict resolution relevant to K-12 classrooms and communities.
OVERVIEW
Master’s Credits: 3 graduate-level credits (Carlow University transcript)
Master’s Degree: All credits apply toward a Master’s in Education in Curriculum & Instruction- ESL for further career advancement.
Course Instructor: Renee Parker, PhD
Course Duration: 8 Weeks; may take up to 3 years to complete
Course Type: 100% Online, Facilitated
Course Sponsor: Carlow University
Course Objectives - Participants will demonstrate the ability to:
Demonstrate knowledge of the processes of negotiating one’s cultural identity.
Differentiate among the varied processes of cultural transitions, including acculturation, assimilation, biculturation and resistance.
Identify negative effects of prejudice, stereotyping and ethnocentrism on language learners’ successful learning in schools and promote pro-social classroom learning environment.
Recognize cultural bias in curriculum and materials and use a range of resources to deliver instruction.
Demonstrate effective intercultural communication skills to appreciate diverse cultures.
Develop effective techniques for communication between home and school by recognizing and supporting the preferred mode of communication of the parent/guardian (written, oral, L1, L2, etc.) and utilizing interpretation and translation resources appropriately.
Demonstrate understanding of the interdependence of language and culture to facilitate students’ transition between the home culture/language and U.S. school culture/language.
Integrate diverse ways of learning and multiple cultural perspectives, including building on ELLs’ strengths, into the planning/adapting of curriculum and instructional methods.
Use research in the field of ESL to articulate a personal educational philosophy for instructing ELL’s.
Create a personal professional development plan based on interests and reflection, taking advantage of opportunities to support those goals in professional associations and other academic organizations.