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QUESTION 3

Malaysia is a country that rich in its multicultural population. The blend of beliefs,
religions, cultures, languages, literatures and public opinions are the foundations that
build the harmonious and stability among the people (Noriati A. Rashid, Boon,
Sharifah Fakhriah Syed Ahmad & Zuraidah A. Majid, 2014). Teachers who teach in a
classroom where diversity of culture becomes an integral part of the student
population, have an important role in creating acceptance among the diverse ethnic
groups. The feelings of acceptance towards each other’s cultural and ethnic
difference can be inculcated by creating a culturally conducive classroom
environment. In order to make it success, teachers themselves have to deal with few
ways to manage a cultural friendly classroom environment in Malaysia.

One of the actions that can be taken to create a conducive teaching and
learning classroom environment that is a culture friendly is through the physical
management. This is because teachers can manage it by changing the seating
arrangement of the students in the classroom. Teachers can arrange them to sit in a
group of five our four in the classroom. This is to ensure that the students will social
and communicate among them regardless of their races and family backgrounds.
When they communicating with each other, it can strengthen the relationship among
the students and create unity in the classroom. Besides, teachers also can set up a
mini library in the classroom and ask the students to bring their own book from
home. Students can bring the storybook of their own ethnic and share it with their
friends. The teacher can have a sharing session of the synopsis of the book that they
have read to other students in the class. As a result, this kind of activity can widen
their knowledge and prevent racial issue from happening.

Besides, teacher can also have the social management in order to create
cultural friendly classroom. Teacher can have few different activities in the
classroom. For examples, teacher can have a birthday party celebration with the
students in the classroom. By having this kind of activity, teacher can teach them to
appreciate their friend and nurture good values in themselves regardless of their
races and ethnics. Furthermore, teacher must be aware of the differences in
communication skills. It is also one of the skills also one the barriers that need to be
considered to manage a cultural friendly classroom. Intercultural communication can
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be defined as the communication between those who have different cultures, values
and beliefs (DeVito, 2009). The communication skills of the students are different
from each other because they are coming from different backgrounds and cultures.
Last but not least, teacher can have the emotional management in the classroom by
giving an equal treatment with all the students regardless of their races and family
backgrounds. This is to ensure that the students do not have a bad perception on the
teacher and do not feel islolated in the class.

As a conclusion, there are lot of ways to manage a cultural friendly classroom

in Malaysia. Teachers play a vital role in maintaining the stability and foster the unity
among the multiracial students. It is important for the teachers have a good
understanding about the differences and nurture good values among the students