Module 11

Cultural Awareness

Objectives for Module 11

• The tutor will evaluate his/her own attitudes toward diversity.
• The tutor will review some general strategies and suggestions with working with diverse students.
• The tutor will learn some reasons why international students seek tutoring.
• The tutor will gain an understanding of why issues of diversity are important.

What is Culture?

Culture refers to the sum total of acquired values, beliefs, customs, and traditions experienced by a group as familiar and normal.  It includes language, religion, customs, and a history of the people.  Students today come from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

The issue of diversity is an important point of interest to the students you and your clients because the typical college student is in a stage of development where cultural and value orientation is being established.  For the first time, many of these students find themselves in an environment where they must form opinions on these topics without worrying about what their elders will say.  The university environment gives students a chance to explore issues and opinions. 

As a tutor, you will be working with students from other cultures.  You will gain an appreciation of different cultures by providing the student with an atmosphere of trust and acceptance.  Encourage the student to talk about his/her family and country if they are willing.  If you are asked about American customs, be sensitive to the client's viewpoints.  What is socially acceptable in the United States might be unthinkable in the client's culture.  Many international students are eager to talk about their country and traditions.  This interaction might be a valuable learning experience for you. 

When you begin tutoring an international student, be aware that sometimes the student will become dependent on you for more than just tutoring.  The student might see you as a much-needed new friend, or as a source of information about not only, scholarly interests, but also social interests.  Student dependence can become an obstacle to bridging the cultural gap.

Reasons International Students Seek Tutoring

• Improve reading rate
• Assistance with understanding course content
• Guidance in adjusting to different academic settings and cultural differences in the classroom
• Practice with conversation
• Seek someone who will answer their questions

General Strategies for Working with Diverse Students

• Recognize any biases or stereotypes you may have absorbed.  To overcome these you should become more informed about the history and culture of groups other than your own and recognize the complexity of diversity.  You need to turn the mirror to yourself, and find out more about your own diversity issues.  You might identify your own attitudes toward diversity by remembering certain pivotal moments in your life.  Ask yourself the following questions:

• Recall the incident in which you first became aware of differences.  What was your reaction?  Were you the focus of attention or were others?  How did that affect how you reacted to the situation?
• What are the "messages" that you learned about various "minorities" or "majorities" when you were a child?  At home? In school? Have your views changed considerably since then?
• Recall an experience in which your own difference put you in an uncomfortable position with the people directly around you.  What was that difference?  How did it affect you?
• How do your memories of differences affect you today?  How do they (or might they) affect your tutoring?

• Treat each student as an individual, and respect each student for who he/she is.  Find commonalities with the student and emphasize your similarities instead of your differences.
• Rectify any language patterns or case examples that exclude or demean any groups.  Do your best to be sensitive to terminology.  Speak clearly, naturally and avoid using slang.
• Make it clear in your sessions that you value all comments.  Encourage participation of your client and monitor your own behavior in responding to your client.
• Be patient and use repetition to explain concepts.

• Frequently ask the student if what you are saying makes sense.
• Ask the student to become the tutor and explain concepts back to you to assess his/her understanding.
• If you do not understand the student, ask them politely to write what they are saying.
• Create a safe, non-threatening atmosphere for the student to practice manipulating a new set of oral, written, and nonverbal communication.

Tutor Quiz 11 - L2