Promotion of diversity is an essential step towards efficient learning (Ehevarria & Graves, 2007). By introducing diversity to class, teachers not only promote a better understanding of specific cultures among learners, but also foster a range of essential qualities in students, such as tolerance and cultural awareness.
Seeing that the setting, in which Karen works, does not involve significant diversity, it can be assumed that the program suggested by her should be supported as an efficient tool in enhancing diversity within the educational setting in question.
In order to encourage Eric to include the activity into the curriculum, Kara should discuss the significance of diversity with him, putting a very strong emphasis on the role of diversity in education. Although the importance of introducing diversity into the classroom is often underrated, students, in fact, need multicultural elements in order to acquire new skills and excel in their studies.
The above-mentioned issue is especially topical in the environment of the 21st century, when globalism has predetermined the phenomenon known as culture fusion. Eric must be convinced that the silent attitude of ISL learners is far from being an adequate response to the teacher’s assignments and that second language learners need support in order to comply with the requirements set in modern educational establishments.
Therefore, a meaningful discussion must be carried out with Eric to persuade him to take up the course and promote multiculturalism among his peers. The above-mentioned courses will help learners not only communicate with the representatives of other cultures in a more efficient manner but also acquire new information and process it faster and more efficiently.
Indeed, recent studies have shown that an increase in diversity rates affects the quality and speed of data acquisition and skills training in students. The above-mentioned phenomenon can be explained by the fact that diversity promotes the skill of viewing a specific problem from various angles and approaching it from several perspectives.
By viewing a certain issue from the perspectives of different cultures, a learner will be able to develop a critical approach towards specific issues, therefore, gaining new experience and making an academic progress. Last, but definitely not least, the issue of oppression deserves to be mentioned.
Unfortunately, the issue of racial and ethnic discrimination remains a sad yet integral part of modern reality, and educational institutions are no exception to the above-mentioned rule. As Kara pointed out in the case study, the instances of racial discrimination, as well as any type of profiling based on cultural difference, is not a rare occurrence in the institution in question.
Herein the need to introduce students to the concept of diversity lies; it is essential that students should be able to treat each other equally and that the relationships between the students and the teachers, as well as among the students of different ethnic backgrounds, should be based on the principles of equity (Wilson & Horsford, 2013).
In order to encourage students to accept other cultures and treat the representatives thereof with polite curiosity instead of enmity, Kara will need to promote the program that she has designed and engage the learners into it. Thus, the grounds for mutual understanding will be created and further conflicts will be prevented.
In addition, diversity will enhance the learning process by providing support for ESL students and encouraging teachers to use appropriate strategies for teaching students from diverse backgrounds.
Reference List
Ehevarria, J. & Graves, A. W. (2007). Sheltered content instruction: Teaching English-language learners with diverse abilities. Web.
Wilson, C. M. & Horsford, S. D. (2013). Advancing equity and achievement in America’s diverse schools: Inclusive theories, policies, and practices. Fairfax, VA: George Mason University.