Learning about cultural awareness of manners has confirmed to
me the need to spend time learning about the mannerisms of others. Young students learn
quickly and can adapt fairly well to change, although the cultural background
that is present at home may not be what is learned in school. This can cause
some struggles, but it could also be a way to share with family what is being
taught in school.
Taking the time to learn about other cultures and the
manners they have can be very beneficial in many ways. What are manners? Do
they matter? Manners can be the way something is done or the behavior, attitude, or appearance of a person. The good manners of an individual show
understanding of important behaviors that have been taught. One of the easiest
ways to learn about manners from other cultures is to ask students what they
know or can share to spread awareness. Sometimes these manners can be good or
bad, and that is important to know and recognize the difference. Kids are
taught manners from a young age, and as they grow, if good manners are
overlooked, the bad manners can become habits that discourage good behavior and
cause challenges as life goes on.
My daughter served her mission in Peru. When she returned,
she told her siblings that belching was very rude in Peru and encouraged them
to stop. She talked about how they don’t wear shoes in the house, which is
something we already did at home. She told them how women greet others by
giving kisses on each cheek. My kids were surprised to hear these things, and I
can only imagine that students coming together in a classroom where some of these
ideas are unfamiliar to students of another culture, would certainly cause
looks of shock, surprise, or maybe even disgust. Home and school are two places
where most manners are taught at younger ages as well as in years ahead. It is
important to establish good manners that remain with a person throughout
his life and to always be willing to learn about the manners of others.
The way you describe mannerisms is accurate. I also believe that we learn it in our home, and later, in the school. We have to stick to the social accepted rules to show respect and education. Thus, we are able to do so when we visit other cultures. Great post!
ReplyDeleteMelinda,
ReplyDeleteI think that a key phrase is "Taking the time to learn about other cultures and the manners". if we do that that can be very beneficial in many ways for us as teachers,this will help us better understand our students, how we can reach them and nurture them in behavior, attitudes, or appearance.For me a good approach is first don`t judge, second learn and third connect with the person.
Thank you.
SIXto