Cultural Diversity: When Teachers are at a Loss
Abstract
Teaching is a rewarding activity, but it can be really frustrating when teachers fail to make their students learn. Teachers in the Department of English of our University stumble on a group of students from a particular region in Indonesia. Our observations on these students in our own classes, feedbacks from teachers in other classes, remarks from the chair of the students’ association, and the results of an interview with them reveal problems in entry behaviour, academic achievement, initative, motivation, class responses, and self-discipline. The teachers find it hard to deal with these students and think that these problems are rooted in the so-called cultural differences, but are they really cultural? This article describes these problems, addresses their reasons from the perspectives of culture and pedagogy, and explores possibilities to overcome them.
Keywords: cultural diversity, teachers, students, problems
References
[1] H. D. Brown, Teaching by Principles, Addison Wesley Longman, Inc, New York, 2001.
[2] R. B. Burns and D. A. Mason, “Class composition and student achievement in elementary schools,” American Educational Research Journal, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 207– 233, 2002.
[3] A. Kartikasari, Ekspedisi Tanah Papua, Kompas, Jakarta, 1997.
[4] M. J. Melalatoa, Ensiklopedi Suku Bangsa di Indonesia. Jilid L-Z. Jakarta: Proyek Pengkajian dan Pembinaan Nilai-Nilai Budaya, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, (1995).
[5] D. J. Mendelsohn, “Learning how to listen using learning strategies,” in Current Trends in the Development and Teaching of the four Language Skills, vol. 29 of Studies on Language Acquisition, pp. 75–90, Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, 2006.
[6] J. Mukundan, Multimedia Materials in developing Countries: The Malaysian Experience. In Tomlinson, B. (Ed.) English Language Learning Materials: A Critical Review (pp.100-109). London: Continuum International Publishing Group, (2008).
[7] Online Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Retrieved from http://dictionary.cambridge.org.
[8] TB. Pemerintah Kabupaten, Rencana Strategis. Arah Kibijakan Umum (Aku) Pemkab. TB. Retrieved from http://telukbintunikab.go.id/detail.php? menuid=rencanastrategis, (2013).
[9] R. Sasson, What is Motivation and How to Strengthen it. Retrieved from http:// www.successconsciousness.com/strengthen_motivation.htm, (2016).
[10] R. Sasson, What is Self-Discipline. Retrieved from http://www.successconscious, (2016).
[11] Satuan Kerja Sementara Kegiatan Hulu Migas, Kabupaten Teluk Bintuni. Pemetaan Sosial Daerah-daerah Penghasil Minyak dan Gas. Retrieved from http://migas. bisbak.com/9104.html, (2012).
[12] Semester Transcripts, Semesters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 2013-2015. Malang: Universitas Negeri Malang.
[13] C. M. Shields, “A comparison study of student attitudes and perceptions in homogeneous and heterogeneous classrooms,” Roeper Review, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 115–119, 2002.
[14] The British Council, International Development. Retrieved from https://www. britishcouncil.id/kemitraan/international-development, (2016).