Asking Why
Implication for teaching!
Asking why in the classroom
One of the pitfalls of teaching another culture is that it can increase the separation between “us� and “them.� Many times as teachers we have students look for the obvious, surface level differences between cultures. It is easy to identify that Hispanic Americans come from countries where the foods are different. Identifying food as a difference is not as effective as understanding why it is different. Many times we stop short of asking and finding out why things are different. Things like clothing and foods are basic, surface level differences. We need to refocus our content to the deep cultural differences instead of the surface level differences. By deep culture I am referring to traditions and language. Of course, it is vital for students to ask why instead of accepting differences as they see them.