DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER

EDUCATION
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES
Telefax: 563-7527
Email: dte@vsu.edu.ph
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

Module 1: Globalization and

Multicultural Literacies
Module Overview
The world has become smaller. Ideas can be shared immediately at the wink of an eye
and a click of a finger. Globalization refers to the era of technology. Students in this era play a
significant role in this movement, especially when faced with the challenging tasks of pursuing
global competitiveness while preserving local culture. The challenge here is that while one
addresses the worldwide market's needs, there is a corresponding responsibility to protect and
even promote their culture.

Lesson 1.2: Multicultural Literacies

Lesson Summary
According to Abao et al. (2019), multicultural literacies pave the way for global
understanding. The uniqueness of each culture gives an aggregate value toward the attainment
of peace and unity among nations. Academicians strive to put a premium on the integration of
cultural education to ensure that students who are the citizens of the country can strengthen
awareness of their culture, preserve and promote such and have it known to the world. Eventually,
once shared, perceptions of the world will be understood and deeply appreciated. In doing so,
people around the globe live in harmony despite diversity.

Learning Outcomes
After the lesson, the learner expects to:
1. Explain the relationship between education and culture.
2. Analyze literature of one choice and make an essay on how it affects a student who is a
product of multiculturalism.
 DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER
EDUCATION
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES
Telefax: 563-7527
Email: dte@vsu.edu.ph
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

Motivation Question

Is this familiar? What is this?

Discussion
Multicultural education in the Philippine is of utmost significance. Students of varied
cultures prefer to learn by selecting a place where they are comfortable, and interaction is more
active and prevalent. Diversity, in other words, has become more present in schools. Poverty is
also a significant problem that affects the quality of education. Students who can afford would
prefer an independent private school while the poor prefer to study at the public school.
Admittedly, Philippine public schools do not have the necessary tools to develop students' skills
and abilities. Also, students in public schools lack the nutrition that students in private schools
have. Students with an empty stomach will certainly not learn much.
Demographics, social, and economic and other trends have a crucial impact on education.
In effect, multicultural education aims to eliminate religion, race, class, and gender divisiveness
by assisting students and obtain the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to become
productive citizens in a democratic society and participate in social change. It is necessary that
teachers are familiar with them, respect, and incorporate students' abilities in their teaching
strategies. Teachers must be familiar with what multi-culture is in education. If implemented
correctly, then school expects the best of achievement.
A direct relationship occurs between culture and education. Culture is an essential part of
the education system; education should reflect on it. For example, when a teacher's classroom
management aligns with students' culture, it enhances the students' achievement and confidence
of students increases. Additionally, methods of teaching and personality of teachers play an
essential role in developing the confidence and success of students in the multicultural
classroom. Teachers should create activities such as group study and field trips. These activities
require students to interact with other students from different cultures and thus raise direct
cultural awareness.
 DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER
EDUCATION
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES
Telefax: 563-7527
Email: dte@vsu.edu.ph
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

Furthermore, a multicultural classroom should focus on the value of multiculturalism and

skills that contribute and encourage students to have trust among then and to their teachers. The
students must understand the importance of multiculturalism and able to make smart decisions.
Awareness of multiculturalism in the environment is essential because this practice provides
intelligent solutions to problems encountered by the learners. Besides, as a critical element in
the educational system, the teacher must set an example for his/her students. For example, in a
multicultural classroom, the teacher encourages their students to respect, apply, or practice what
they have learned from their classmates' cultures. However, when teachers do not follow it
themselves, their students will not bother practicing the other students' perceptions. Thus,
teachers should lead by example. Overall, suppose teachers focus on multicultural teaching and
learning; they will be more productive and gain their students' trust in the multicultural classroom.
They will increase students' trust in intercultural integration, which helps bridge cultural
differences among all students. Finally, teachers must embrace students' differences in terms of
varied backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Also, teachers can reduce issues in the
multicultural classroom by improving their teaching approaches. Remember that flexibility is
more important than knowledge in dealing with multicultural themes. Therefore, teachers should
explore multicultural classrooms as they face and deal with these problems. Teachers should
also try to find, create, or design to improve students' academic achievement and build an
adequate or healthy relationship with students.

Definitions
Multicultural literacy consists of the skills and ability to identify the creators of knowledge
and their interests (Banks, 1996) to reveal the assumptions of knowledge, to view knowledge from
diverse ethnic and cultural perspective, and to use knowledge to guide action that will create
humane and just world (Boutte, 2008). Multicultural literacy then, brings attention diversity, equity
and social justice to foster cultural awareness by addressing difficult issues like discrimination
and oppression towards other ethnicities (Boutte, 2008).
Accordingly, education for multicultural literacy should help students to develop 21 st
century skills and attitudes that are needed to become active citizens who will work toward
achieving social justice within communities. Because of the growing racial, language and ethnic
diversity in the country, multicultural literacy needs to be transformed in substantial ways to
prepare students to function effectively in the 21st century (Boutte, 2008).
Boutte (2008) reiterated that making small changes within the classrooms can create big
changes globally. As diversity grows, there is a need for the emergence of multicultural education
that is more representative of the students in today’s classrooms. Banks (2003) asserted that
teaching students to be advocates of multiculturalism is also a matter of sending a message of
empathy and tolerance in schools to develop a deeper understanding of others and appreciation
of different cultures. Developing these attitudes and skills requires basic knowledge prior to
teaching students how to question assumptions about a cultural knowledge and how to critique
and critically think about these important cultural issues, which is what essentially makes
multicultural literacy a 21t century literacy (Banks, 2003).
 DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER
EDUCATION
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES
Telefax: 563-7527
Email: dte@vsu.edu.ph
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

Tips to Foster Engaging Learning Culture

In the process of becoming part of the world, there is a need to actively immerse
yourselves in the different cultures of the world through a meaningful learning management. The
following tips are suggested:

Create a new circle of friends. In this era of technology, invite local and international friends in a
social network. Know them and share stories with one another: family, educational practices,
local traditions, and the like.

Offer time and resources. Once friendship is established, be ready to share your time and
knowledge so you will be able to learn from each other. In the course of doings so, you are starting
to build a good relationship.

Network ideas. In the process of further knowing each other and the relationship has engendered
trust, you and your friend can recommend each other for more friends. Through this, you can
share with each other in terms of your interest, plans, etc.

Note similarities and differences of beliefs and practices. As the network expands, you need to
note similarities and differences of your beliefs and practices. in the process, you further learn
from each other and probably enjoy each other’s company. At this point, you have gradually learn
from each other’s culture thus, eventually adjust and immerse inti it as well.

Explore opportunities. Once you have learned from each other’s culture, you can offer chances of
inviting him/her to be part of your academic activities like requesting him/her for evaluation of
your and your classmates’ course output. This can be done vice-versa.

Care for each other. From time to time, check on each other’s status and learn how to show care
and concern for her/him. This is an important element to strengthen relationship. You need to
preserve it. Sometimes family members become part of such relationship.

Transfer Learning. To make online communication with friends more meaningful and fruitful way,
you need to share experiences with your classmates in the classroom and vice-versa. It is through
this that you can truly claim that learning is significant because its shared with/transferred with
others.
In today’s world, connection plays a powerful agent towards globalization and immersing
into others’ cultures. So start to C-O-N-N-E-C-T!