In an increasingly diverse economy, I come in contact with cultural diversity by interacting with colleagues in the school, my neighborhood, and my workplace. The United States
Whether we inhabit a home, a college dorm, a prison cell, or a military barracks, we can welcome others as a way of showing our love for them and for Christ. Hospitality is making room for people in need. –David McCasland
When involved in a diverse community, I have a tendency to communicate differently with people from different groups and cultures other than my own. One of the most culturally unresponsiveness situations I find myself in is communicating effectively with my children and their families who speak another language; mostly in my area- Spanish. I have learned some beginner’s Spanish words, but I still can’t speak it well enough to communicate effectively. I find myself using a lot of hand gestures, using different objects to identify what I’m talking about, or if the communication is still not effective, I resort to a translator, which makes me feel terrible because I wasn’t able to supply the needs of the children and their parents.
As an early childhood professional, in order to communicate more effectively with my children and their families there are three strategies I will use. Among these are:
- Understanding and acknowledging that we are from different cultures and backgrounds.
- Become other-oriented by developing appropriate knowledge and understanding of the Hispanic culture and how they communicate.
- Have a translator on standby when conducting parent conferences, special activities, or to translate newsletters, or any other important information.
* Here is a quote I would like to share by Bernard Baruch:
“We don’t all come over on the same boat, but we’re all in the same boat”
I appreciate the three strategies you shared. When we can apply these in our day to day lives, our relationships can become richer because we are committed to understanding one another and to supporting each other. In our work, this approach can contribute to a more supportive and successful working environment where families can flourish, can feel included and supported both in their own culture and in learning the American culture.
ReplyDeleteI too find it difficult to communicate with my families who speak different languages. I recently began translating my weekly Director's Newsletter in spanish. I was very nervous at first as I was unsure of the translation web page or if the true meaning would be captured in the translation. I saw the parent the next day and asked if she saw the newsletter and the smile on her face said it all. She thanked me and nodded her head and I could tell simply from her non-verbal cues that she was most appreciative of the spanish newsletter and I hope on some level she felt connected to our program.
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