Discussion: Exploring Your Own Styles of Communication
How teachers view the home language of students and their families plays a significant role in teacher's expectations and respect for students cultures. Speaking a different dialect or language ---- should not prejudice teachers attitudes towards children. But it too often does" (Perry & Delpit, 1998) p.xiv). Respecting and honouring a child's home language is an essential objective for any teacher. The success in integrating each child's home language into the classroom, though often not done, has critical implications to a child's sense of self and literacy development.
Answer all the questions -
How did your family communicate? Was respectful silence appreciated? Were nonverbal cues important? Was there an expectation to speak up to the point? Was communication generally direct or indirect?
What type of guidance did your family use, i.e., in what ways were family values and rules taught?
How do these responses and behaviours differ from other families you know(especially families who seem very different from your own)? What are your thoughts about those differences?
What occurs when you interact with someone with different way of communicating? Do you ever feel any strong emotions?