The Silenced Dialogue
Awareness of culture.
The culture of power and the power of culture
Rules
Communication
Different culture perspectives
I personally found the article very interesting and helpful, especially in the way
the author refers to the main issues of African American students and teachers. Any teacher should be aware of the ways of learning of their students as well as their cultural backgrounds, in order to address their needs in a more effective way.
I’m having discipline problems with my students, and it is really hard to understand certain behaviors, because I don’t belong to their African American culture. There are communication problems which greatly affect my relationship with them and I get frustrated. Reading this article gave me a better understanding of their culture and also how I should talk to them.
About the culture of power I have to say that the power of culture is also predominant and different cultures want to dominate each other. Each culture wants to impose their codes and rules on others, causing people to reject change and new ideas.
I agree with the student’s comment about what a teacher should and should not do in a classroom, and how actions determine whether or not he/she is a good educator. That’s why I feel the need to find different teaching strategies in order to meet my students’ expectations, and better out teacher-student relationships.
In order to minimize the bridge between home and school language, it is necessary to incorporate formal English at home from early ages and the role of parents remarkably important.
