BR Mod1B 2002

1
Welcome the Children
Cultural Diversity Training for Early Childhood
Professionals Working with Latin American
Families
Funding provided by the Department of Human
Services, Division of Child Care and Early
Childhood Education Project Administered by the
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Partners for Inclusive Communities Content
modified by Welcome the Children from original
presentation developed by (n)site language
services Shay Lastra and Meredith
Wells Evaluation and Video by University of
Arkansas at Little Rock Dr. Terry Richard, Dr.
Carolyn Turturro, and Darlene Kurtz
2
Welcome

• Introductions
• Review of Participants Manual
• Symbols on Screen (references)
• Group Names
• Review of Agenda
• (Ref )

Handout
3
Workshop Objectives

• Help you to
• Understand similarities and differences between
  typical American customs and those practiced by
  families from Latin American countries.
• Recognize your own cultural perspectives.
• Better understand Latin American culture.

4
Key Ideas

• We all have cultural biases, believing our own
  culture to be the best.
• One culture is not better than another just
  different.
• To communicate well, it is important to consider
  cultural differences.

5
Section I.Understanding Our Own Culture
6
What is Culture?

• Culture is a way of life.
• It is a shared background of common customs,
  beliefs and values, communication styles and
  language.
• (Ref. 4, 8, 18, 45)

7
World Song Video
8
Culture

• Culture affects the way you
• 1. think
• 2. interact
• 3. communicate

9
Culture The Iceberg Model
The remaining 90 are comprised of unspoken rules
(like business etiquette) and unconscious rules
(like non-verbal behavior).
Just as only 10 of an iceberg is visible above
water, only 10 of a groups cultural
characteristics are obvious or explicit.
10
Culture

• Culture affects parents
• 1. survival
• 2. economics
• 3. behavior
• (Ref. 4, 7,45)

11
Our Way Is the Best Way

• When people believe that their cultures way of
  living is superior to those of other cultures, it
  is called Ethnocentrism.
• We all think that our own way of achieving goals
  and living life is the best, most moral, and
  civilized way.
• (Ref. 5, 8, 45)

12
Family Rituals

• Families began teaching us their patterns, their
  way of thinking and acting, the moment we were
  born.
• Rituals are traditions that families inherit or
  create from their personal beliefs.
• Provide identity and stability.
• (Ref. 6, 34, 35, 36, 37, 63)

1
13
Family Rituals and Traditions

• Describe your
• Halloween activities
• Christmas - Hanukkah - Kwanzaa
• (Ref. 1, 7, 37,38, 59)

1
14
Contrasting Perspectives
15
?Contrasting Perspectives

• 1. Did any of the feeding scenes bother you?
  If yes, which ones and why?
• 2. Did anything about the toileting scenes
  bother you? If yes, what and why?
• 3. Did anything else make you uncomfortable
  or offend you?
• (Ref. 7, 9, 27)

2
16
?Contrasting Perspectives

• 4. Did anything go against what you have
• been taught was appropriate for interacting
  with children?
• 5. Should a child get messy while learning or
  stay clean? Why?
• 6. Does a child learn more by listening and
  watching an activity or by doing an activity?
• (Ref. 7, 9, 27)

2
17
Independence vs Interdependence

• Typically, American culture emphasizes and values
  independence.
• It is sometimes difficult to understand that some
  other cultures value interdependence more.

18
Benefits of Independence

• Able to care for self earlier (dressing, eating,
  etc.)
• Taught to follow own dreams and achieve
• May be better prepared to handle own problems
• Taught that it is better to give than receive
  help
• Fosters leadership
• Encourages Self-Motivation

19
Benefits of Interdependence

• Learns to trust and count on other people
• Stronger ties with culture and family
• May be more likely to receive support when needed
  
• Taught to give help to others as well as receive
  help
• Fosters team players
• Promotes closeness among family members

20
Cultural Relativity

• Culture provides acceptable boundaries to fulfill
  basic activities. As noted with toilet training,
  eating, body language, etc., there is no right or
  wrong no superior way of doing an activity.
  This concept is known as cultural relativity.

21
Cultural Relativity

• Cultural relativity is the recognition that
  different cultures have their own definitions of
  the importance of time, beauty, health, etc.
• These variations in the way people behave have
  positive meanings for that specific group or
  society.

22
Cultural Relativity

• When we recognize that there are many unique,
  colorful, AND functional ways of accomplishing
  activities in a society -
• -we avoid being ETHNOCENTRIC.

23
Cultural Filters

• We dont see things as they are, we see them as
  WE are.
• (Anais Nin)

24
Cultural Perspectives and Values

• Each culture has its own ideas about what is
  considered good, desirable, and important.
• A person cannot change his perspectives just
  because someone else tells him to change.
• A cultures perspectives reflect how that culture
  views authority, body language, time, roles of
  men and women, education, and even child care
  practices.
• (Ref. 8, 25, 60, 63)

3
25
Section II.Understanding Latin American Culture
26
Generalizations vs. Stereotypes

• Generalization (Descriptive)
• - Groups and tendencies
• - Many American children leave home when they
  turn 18.
• Stereotypical (Judgmental)
• - When ALL people act a certain way
• - All American children leave home when they
  turn 18. (Ref . 11, 58)

27
Generalization or Stereotype

• 1. All American babies use pacifiers.
• 2. Most American child care providers are
• nurturing and loving people.
• 3. Latin American parents dont volunteer
  because they dont speak English.
• 4. Most Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving.
• 5. All Latinos are Catholic.
• 6. Most Hispanics celebrate Las Posadas.
• (Ref. 1)

28
CLINTON FAMILY TREE
William Jefferson Clinton Hillary Diane
Rodham
Hillary Rodham-Clinton
Chelsea Clinton
29
Whats in a Name?

• Pedro José Santiago Lopez Luisa Maria
  Rodriguez Castillo
• (father) (mothers maiden name)
• Luisa Maria Rodriguez de Santiago
• (mothers name after marriage)
• José Antonio Santiago Rodriguez Maria Luz
  Santiago Rodriguez
• (son)
  (daughter)
• (Ref. 2, 3)

(Ref 68)
30
Names

• Pronunciation of names
• What is your name?
• Cómo te llamas?
• My name is Mary.
• Me llamo Mary.
• (Ref. 1, 61)

31
Figuring Out Spanish Dates

• In the United States, the sequence for writing
  dates is to put the month first, the day second
• 3/10/02 March tenth, 2002
• In Latin America, the sequence for writing dates
  is to put the day first, the month second
• 3/10/02 October third, 2002
• (Ref 1)

4
32
Whats the Difference?

• Hispanic - means someone whose native language is
  Spanish
• Latino - interchangeable with Hispanic, but
  generally is considered more politically
  correct
• Chicano - generally used in Texas and California
  for Mexican Americans who have been in the United
  States for 2 3 generations
• Latin American - Literally means someone from
  Latin America
• (Ref. 12, 13, 14, 15, 60)

5
33
Latin American Countries that Speak Spanish
6
34
Latin American Countries that Speak Spanish
6
35
Latin American Countries that Speak Spanish
6
36
Where is Spain in relation to the Americas?
6
37
Differing Cultures Within Latin America

• ? Latin American countries represented in
  Arkansas day cares and schools include

• Argentina
• Mexico
• El Salvador
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Honduras
• Peru
• Guatemala

• Cuba
• Dominican Republic
• Puerto Rico (US territory)
• Venezuela
• Uruguay
• Ecuador
• Chile
• Colombia

(Ref. 16, 64, 65, 66)
38
Latin American Holidays

• Compare Day of the Dead and Las Posadas
  rituals to general American rituals for holidays
  like Halloween and Christmas, Hanukkah, or
  Kwanzaa.
• (Ref. 1, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47 )

8 and 9
39
Day Of The DeadDía de los Muertos

• (Ref . 1, 41, 44, 45, 62, 68)

Photo of two altars designed for el día de los
muertos (courtesy of Houston Institute for
culture)
8
40
Day Of The DeadDía de los Muertos
Photo of a woman decorating the grave of a loved
one. courtesy of Houston Institute for culture

• (Ref. 1, 41, 44, 45, 62, 68)

8
41
Las Posadas

• (Ref . 1, 42, 43, 62)

9
42
Las Posadas

• (Ref . 1, 42, 43, 62)

9
43
Latin American Holidays

• Compare Latin American holidays among Latin
  American countries.
• List 2 differences between Mexico and Guatemala
  on November 1 and 2.
• List 2 differences between Guatemala and El
  Salvador during Easter Holiday.
• (Ref . 1, 17,38 )

10 and 11
44
Cultural Perspectives

• ? Authority
• ? Body Language
• ? Time
• ? ? Roles of Men and Women
• ? Child Care Practices
• (Ref .1, 53, 59, 60, 63)

45
Latin American Values

• Latin American cultures have different
• perceptions regarding
• authority
• time
• body language
• roles of men and women
• child care practices
• (Ref. 1, 17, 19 24, 26 - 28, 53, 57, 59, 60,
  63)

3
46
Authority

• Do you respect superiors just because of their
  title or do they have to earn your respect?
• Do you call the parents at your facility by their
  first name or last name?
• Do people at your center or school call you by
  your first name or last name?
• When you are upset with someone, are you direct
  or indirect about your feelings?
• (Ref. 1, 17, 19 24, 26 - 28, 53, 57, 59, 60,
  63)

3
47
Body Language

• 5. Do you touch acquaintances when you
• greet them?
• 6. Do you stand further than one foot away
• from a person when you talk to them?
• 7. When you talk with your superiors, do you
• have consistent and direct eye contact?
• (Ref. 1, 17, 19 24, 26 - 28, 53, 57, 59,
  60, 63)

3
48
Time

• Do you feel that youre in control of your
• time or does your schedule generally
• control you?
• Are deadlines flexible - Is a deadline a
• true commitment or simply a goal?
• (Ref. 1, 17, 19 24, 26 - 28, 53, 57, 59,
  60, 63)

3
49
Roles of Men and Women

• 10. Do you feel men and women should be
• treated equally?
• 11. Do girls have as much of a right to
• attend school as boys?
• 12. Assuming you are married, would your
• mother or mother-in-law make decisions
• for your household?
• (Ref. 1, 17, 19 24, 26 - 28, 53,
  57, 59, 60, 63)

3
50
Child Care Practices

• Do most families that you know send their
• children to day-care centers or are the
• children kept by family members?
• Should children be on medication, such
• as over the counter or herbal remedies,
• even though they dont have a
• prescription from a doctor?
• (Ref. 1, 9, 17, 19 24, 26 - 28, 53, 57, 59, 60,
  63)

3
51
Common Hispanic FolkHealth Beliefs and Practices

• Folk remedies and beliefs are not unique to Latin
  American culture. Many Americans (especially if
  you look to your parents or grandparents
  generations) have similar beliefs or
  superstitions.
• Belief in folk healing must not be generalized to
  all Hispanic populations, or even to one Hispanic
  group.

(Ref. 27, 29, 54, 55, 56)
12
52
Section III.Communicating with
Spanish-speaking Parents
53
Good and Bad Conversations

• Good Ways to Communicate
• using door openers and words of encouragement
• nodding, showing interest
• giving time and focusing
• Bad Ways to Communicate
• saying always or never
• blaming or threatening
• belittling concerns
• showing lack of interest
• (Ref . 11, 30, 39, 7, 40, 48, 49 )

54
Smith/Lopez Dialogue
55
? Smith and Lopez Dialogue

• Video
• Groups Think of 3 ways Miss Smith communicated
  well and 3 ways that she could communicate
  better.
• (Ref. 31)

13
56
Communicate by Reaching Out

• Reflect Respect families language and culture.
• Use their proper names.
• Label items in the classroom in Spanish.
• Include the family in decisions.
• Have important information available.
• Learn basic Spanish vocabulary!
• (Ref. 4, 18, 27, 32, 48, 49, 50, 51,52. 53)

57
Summary of Workshop Objectives

• Today, we have discussed
• Similarities and differences between typical
  American customs and those practiced by families
  from Latin American countries.
• How to recognize our own cultural perspectives.
• How to better understand and reach out to
  families who have a Latin American cultural
  perspective.

58
Victor Video
59
? Victor

• School expectations
• Language barriers
• Parental participation
• Parent / Teacher relationship
• Peer relationships
• Cultural sensitivity
• (Ref.1, 33)

60
Thank you!

• Post-Test, Evaluations, and Certificates
• (Ref. 67)
• This presentation was modified from the original
  presentation developed by (n)site language
  services
• For more information contact www.nsitelanguagese
  rvices.net
• or email nsiteservices_at_aol.com