MODULE 9: Global Teachers:
Multiculturally Skilled
EXPECTATION
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
1. Describe teacher’s skill in handling multicultural classes.
EXPLORATION
The world is becoming smaller and accessible that educator’s perspectives and
mindsets are now towards global citizenship, international cooperation and cross-cultural
understanding. Globally, there has been an increasing interest for cross-cultural education programs
for both teachers and learners. Readiness to this phenomenon requires retooling of teachers to
become globally ready. A global teacher therefore needs to possess skills, competencies and
attitudes in caring and in teaching diverse and multicultural learners.
The Philippines, considered to be the third largest English-speaking nation provides
multicultural learning atmosphere following America, British, German, Chinese, French and Japanese
educational tracks. Philippine’s popularity for foreign students is attributed to English as the mode of
instruction in all levels of education.
The challenge of globalization goes with the challenge of teacher education program
on multicultural education. Teacher’s readiness for multicultural education goes with their
knowledge, preparation and understanding of the culture, linguistics, economy and ethnic diverse
issues. Moreover, there is a great demand for teachers teaching multicultural classes to recognize
identity, encourage respect and promote mutual understanding across different cultures and
traditions.
Think about the following questions as your guide in understanding the skills needed of a teacher
teaching multicultural classes:
1. Who is a multicultural literate teacher?
2. What global literacy can help a multicultural teacher?
3. How can 21st century teaching and learning skills help a teacher teaching multicultural classes?
The 21st Century Skills help a global teacher in teaching multicultural classes. This includes:
1.Information and Communication skills
1.1 media literacy
1.2 information literacy
1.3 ICT Literacy
THE TEACHING PROFESSION
Information and media literacy skills refer to analyzing, accessing, managing,
integrating evaluating, and creating information in a variety of forms and media. Media and digital
literacy, belong to the literate 21st century learners.
2. Thinking and problem-solving skills (Learning and Innovation Skills) which include:
2.1 critical thinking
2.2 creativity
2.3 intellectual curiosity
Considering problem solving as a form of thinking and intellectual exercise is a
learning skill in the 21st century. The learners process learning through higher order thinking skills.
The learners are exposed to various idea creation techniques in order to resolve a problem.
Openness and responsiveness to new and diverse perspective address intellectual curiosity.
3. interpersonal and self-directional skills (Life & Career Skills) which includes:
3.1 flexibility and adaptability
3.2 initiative and self-direction
3.3. social and cross-cultural skills.
3.4. productivity and accountability
3.5 leadership and responsibility
WAT ARE THE ROLES OF TEACHERS TEACHING MULTICULTURAL CLASSES
1. Multicultural teacher uses multicultural approach in curriculum
• Expands and or alter the curriculum considering not only the dominant group
• Promotes pluralism by reforming the educational program
• Helping the learners to be knowledgeable about their own beliefs, cultural and ethnic
heritage especially the minority group.
2. Multicultural teacher promotes good human relationship
• Develop positive and caring attitude to people of different races and ethnicities
• Creates collaborative learning to interact and work with the team
• Enhancing the social skills of both dominant and minority group
3. Multicultural teacher promotes social reform and cultural change
• Advocates social equalities to facilitate academic achievement for all students
• Leverages social and cultural differences
• Open-minded to create different ideas and valuesREFERENCE:
The Teaching Profession; Lim, Caubic, Casihan (2014); pp. 80-89
THE TEACHING PROFESSION
