Globalization, Cultural, and

Multicultural Literacy
What is
-Global literacy is an understanding of how the world is organized and
interconnected. It brings awareness of the possibilities and constraints
facing the world’s people. Students who are globally literate are able
to think critically about the world and the role that they play in it.
These students have an understanding of and appreciation for the
different cultures, customs, systems and relationships that exist
throughout the world. Globally literate students are empowered to
affect positive change in the world.
-Global Literacy aims to address issues of globalization, racism,
diversity and social justice (Guo, 2014). It requires awareness and
action, consistent with a broad understanding of humanity, the planet,
and the impact of human decision on both. Global Literacy also aims
to empower students with knowledge and take action to make a
positive impact in the world and their local community (Guo, 2014).
Global Literacy promotes and encourages:

1. Inquiry, reasoning and problem solving

2. Collaboration
3. Communication and an understanding of world
4. Languages and cultures
5. An understanding of globalized systems and political realities
6. Responsible global citizenship
7. Respect for diversity
8. An understanding of the skills and technologies that are necessary
for life in the 21st century
9. The ability for students to become advocates for themselves and
their city/state/country
 According to the Ontario Ministry of Education (2015). A global
citizen should display most or all of the following characteristics:
-Respect for humans no matter their race, gender, religion or political
perspectives.
-Respect for diversity and various perspectives.
-Promoting sustainable patterns of living, consumption,
and production.
-Appreciate the natural world and demonstrate respectful towards the
rights of all living things.
 Cultural Literacy is the ability to understand and appreciate the
similarities and differences in the customs, values, and beliefs of one’s
own culture and the culture of others.

(North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, 2000)

Cultural literacy is a term coined by E. D. Hirsch, referring to the

ability to understand and participate fluently in a given culture.
Cultural literacy is an analogy to literacy proper (the ability to read and
write letters).
-A literate reader knows the object-language's alphabet, grammar, and
a sufficient set of vocabulary; a culturally literate person knows a given
culture's signs and symbols, including its language, particular dialectic,
stories, entertainment, idioms, and so on. The culturally literate
person is able to talk to and understand others of that culture with
fluency, while the culturally illiterate person fails to understand
references to past events, idiomatic expressions, jokes, names, places,
etc.
Why is Cultural Literacy Important?
-Cultural literacy is important both to individuals and to the society
they live in. As an individual, your cultural literacy will help you to
successfully interact with people from diverse backgrounds, including
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It helps you to
develop a critical cultural perspective, especially if you are part of the
'dominant culture': instead of taking your own cultural beliefs and
practices for granted and seeing them as 'normal', you can see them in
the context of many cultures and evaluate their strengths and
limitations (Flavell, Thackrah & Hoffman, 2013). Cultural literacy also
helps you develop associated skills, such as communication and self-
reflection (Flavell, Thackrah & Hoffman, 2013).
 Cultural literacy contributes positively to the society in which you
live. Itreduces prejudice and inequality based on culture,
increases the value placed on diversity, and
increases participation in the social practices of that society, including
access to institutions and services (Anning, 2010).
Developing cultural literacy is crucial in the modern classroom, in
that the increasing diversity of the student population necessitates
understanding and appreciation of others' experiences, backgrounds
and cultures.
 -Cultural literacy helps students interact and collaborate
effectively, both of which will be necessary skills in their lives after
graduation. According to educational theories such as Vygotsky's
Social Development Theory, learning occurs in the social context of
community. As such, a deeper understanding of diversity in one's
community should improve learning. This means that cultural diversity
is our greatest educational resource.
How Does One Become More
Culturally Literate?
 Cultural Literacy is about reading... in its widest sense.  By reading
more, by reading about different subjects... when reading becomes a
pleasure rather than a chore, one becomes more culturally literate...
naturally. It's a simple fact that the more one reads, the more one can
understand what is read, the more enjoyable reading becomes and...

the more culturally literate one becomes. 

Are You Culturally Literate?
Why or Why Not?
 Multicultural Literacy is: Awareness that culture impacts behavior
and beliefs. Awareness and appreciation of different beliefs,
appearances and lifestyles.
 
Multicultural Literacy consists of the skills and ability to identify
the creators of knowledge and their interests (Banks, 1996), to uncover
the assumptions of knowledge, to view knowledge from diverse ethnic
and cultural perspective, and to use knowledge to guided action that
will create a humane and just world (Boutte, 2008).
 Multicultural Literacy brings attention to diversity, equity and
social justice to foster cultural awareness by addressing difficult issues
like discrimination and oppression towards other ethnicities (Boutte,
2008).
According to Boutte (2008) Education for Multicultural Literacy
should help students to develop the 21st century skills and attitudes
that are needed to become active citizens who will work towards
achieving social justice within our communities.
Because of the growing racial, language and ethnic diversity in our
country, Multicultural Literacy needs to be transformed in substantial
ways to prepare students to function effectively in the 21st Century
(Boutte, 2008).

By making small changes within the classrooms, it can create big

changes globally (Boutte, 2008). As diversity grows, there is a need for
the emergence of multicultural education that is more representative
of the students in today’s classrooms.
 By teaching students to be advocates for multiculturalism, we are
also sending a message of empathy and tolerance in schools as a need
to develop deeper understanding of others and appreciation of
different cultures (Banks, 2003).

With this being said, in order for students to develop these attitudes
and skills, it requires basic knowledge prior to teaching students how
to question assumptions about cultural knowledge and how to critique
and critically think about these important cultural issues, which is
what essentially makes Multicultural Literacy a 21st Century Literacy
(Banks, 2003).
  
What is Globalization and
Multicultural Literacy
 Is knowledge of cultures and languages. We live in multicultural
societies, teach in multicultural settings, and our students interact with
those who come from a different place. Awareness of and sensitivity
to culturally determined norms promote understanding. In fact, when
students embrace the principle that difference does not equal
deficiency, they gain an appreciation for the wealth of diversity that
surrounds us.
  
Example:
 Surry County Schools is located in a rural community. In order for
our students to achieve success in the 21st Century, we need to
provide opportunities for them to be bilingual and to interact with
other cultures. Surry County Schools is developing bilingual students
through the use of:
 Rosetta Stone - This bilingual program was purchased for all
elementary and middle schools in the district. Elementary school
computer lab teachers set up a wonderful learning environment
for elementary students.  In the middle schools, students are
learning multiple languages through the use of Rosetta Stone on
their laptops through the 1:1 Laptop Initiative.  Students are
learning to speak Spanish or Mandarin Chinese in the elementary

grades and any chosen language in the middle grades.

 Virtual High Schools - (North Carolina Virtal Public High School)-is
committed to raising achievement and closing learning gaps with
21st Century innnovations. The mission is to provide skills, student
support, and opportunities for learners to succeed in a globally
competitive world.  Seventy-two (72) courses are provided
including world languages.  In this spring 2010 semester, the school
district has 60 students enrolled in almost 40 different courses. 
Over 200 students have taken courses from the NCVPHS since its
inception. 
Skype - This technology is utilized throughout the school district to
allow students to gain experiences about other cultures by contacting
and seeing other people from different countries. They are putting
their language skills to the test.  Skype is also used for in-house and
school-to-school communication as well.
  
How are Multicultural and Global
Literacy Interconnected?
 Every classroom contains students of different race, religion, and
cultural groups. Students embrace diverse behaviors, cultural values,
patterns of practice, and communication. Yet they all share one
commonality: their educational opportunity (Guo, 2014).
 Teachers should teach their students that other cultures exist and
that these deserve to be acknowledged and respected. Integrating a
variety of cultural context into lessons and activities, teaches students
to view the world from many angles, creates a respect for diversity
and enables students to learn exciting information. As classrooms
become increasingly more diverse, it is important for educators to
acknowledge an address diversity issues and to integrate
multiculturalism information into the classroom curriculum (Guo,
2014)
THANK YOU!!
 Group Activity
Each group will formulate your own
song entitled “How to be Globally,
Cultural and Multicultural Literate?
And to be submitted in a video
format.
 Rubrics
Delivery ------------------------- 20%
Cooperation ------------------ 30%
Content ------------------------- 50%
Total -----------------------------100%