Table V:
Problems That May Result From Culture and
Communication Conflicts in the Classroom

Student Characteristics Some examples of Inappropriate Responses Some Examples of Possible Impact on Student
Diverse Cultural Assumptions
  • Negative attitudes towards dialect variation

  • Lower student expectations

  • Excessive interruptions
  • Lowered self-image

  • Lowered achievement and excessive special education placements

  • Low student participation; disproportionately low placement in talented and gifted programs
Diverse Verbal Behavior
  • Diversity ignored in teaching process

  • Insufficient attention to student speech
  • Lowered self-expectations

  • Excessive speech/language therapy placements
Diverse Nonverbal Behavior
  • Frequent misunderstandings and misinterpretations of student

  • Perception of student as disorganized
  • Lowered achievement in oral standard English

  • Lowered achievement and academic self-concept
Diverse Story-Telling and Conversational Rules
  • Perception of student as poor thinker

  • Perception of communication differences as discipline problem

  • Perception of communication differences as social insults (unintentional)
  • Perception of frequent social insults (unintentional) from teachers and other students

  • Frequent misunderstandings and misinterpretations from personnel and other students

  • Perception of negative school climate

  • Interpersonal / intergroup conflicts

  • Poor performance on tests and assessments

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