Read the text to answer.
Teaching multicultural classes
Long hailed as a melting pot of cultures, America is home
to millions of immigrants – whether their ancestors sailed
across on the Mayflower or they moved to the country last
week. Research by the National Center for Educational
Statisticsfound that one-third of U.S. students are considered
racial or ethnic minorities, a number that is set to increase to
more than half by 2050. In this changing educational
landscape, teachers are challenged with creating inclusive
classrooms where students of all backgrounds feel
represented and welcomed. For teachers with a classroom full
of students of different backgrounds, the responsibility to
connect with them goes beyond simply knowing where they’re
from, or what their favorite subjects are. These teachers must
strive to understand their students in a more holistic way,
incorporating their cultural traditions into lessons and
activities, so students feel understood, comfortable, and
focused on learning. Culture is a broad term, and one that is
not easily summed up. In her book Culture Learning: The Fifth
Dimension on the Language Classroom, author Louise Damen
defined culture as the “learned and shared human patterns or
models for living; day-to-day living patterns that pervade all
aspects of human social interaction. Culture is mankind’s
primary adaptive mechanism”. Individuals from varied
nationalities, ethnicities, and races all bring cultural traditions
to their interactions, and it’s up to teachers to recognize,
celebrate and share these different perspectives. Using
different activities and games in multicultural classrooms is an
excellent way to foster inclusivity and encourage students to
share their heritage. It’s also a beneficial way for teachers to
involve students in different styles of study to immerse them
in their learning. Sharing about oneself within the confines of
an activity is often much easier than being asked open-ended
questions and put “on the spot”. These activities can then
provide a safe space for dialogue and serve as an entryway into
more in-depth interactions.
(Available: https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org. Adapted.)