Francisco is the name of a young boy who was born in Mexico. One day his family decides to leave Mexico and head to the United States. Once they are in the U.S. the constantly live on the move bouncing from one place to another. In the novel “The Circuit” readers are taken into the life of migrant child. Readers endure the struggle of cultural diversity, language learning, and school. This is a great lesson not only for teachers, and adults, but also for students. This allows them to understand what it is like to live in somebody else’s shoes.
Cultural diversity is an important element. Often times we acknowledge cultural diversity but we don’t quite understand it simply because we do not live it. With this novel, readers can understand cultural
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diversity from a child perspective. In the novel, one of the biggest cultural difference portrayed in the novel is living. The parents struggle to find work, leaving the children to support each other. They move place to place because that is where they can find work. This stress is something that Francisco picks up on. At one point he even mentions that he can’t wait to help his parents work. I think the family goes through a bit of a cultural shock with the struggle to survive. One of the most important parts of this novel was language learning. When Francisco starts school his teacher conducts with the English only approach. This takes a huge hindrance to Francisco. Since Francisco tries to understand but cannot he spends most of the day making up his own words to what the teacher is saying, and ends the day frustrated because he cannot understand. I think that if the teacher would have learned some Spanish or took more concern with Francisco he would not of struggled nearly as much as he did. After reading the novel, I really took into perspective teaching with migrant children through the perspective of the student.
Sometimes as a teacher we try and do well but sometimes we actually end up hindering. So it is important to understand the child’s perspective so avoid such hindrance. For example, in the novel there is a part when the teacher is reading to the class and Francisco tries to pay attention but since he cannot understand he begins creating his own story to the pictures. Some teachers may take this as sign that he is not paying attention, but in fact he is just in his own way. I think it is also important for teachers to learn the culture and language of the students. This way the student can learn effectively.
Understanding the life of a migrant child is something everyone should understand, including students. This way it creates a supportive atmosphere on everyone’s behalf. If I were to teach this concept using “The Circuit” I would first begin by having my students read the novel. With each chapter would have questions that go with that reading. For instance, if the first chapter was assigned as a reading I would also assign question such as: compare and contrast your life to Francisco, how would you feel if you were Francisco,
etc.
In this analysis includes a summary of the characters and the issues they are dealing with, as well as concepts that are seen that we have discussed in class. Such as stereotyping and the lack of discrimination and prejudice, then finally I suggest a few actions that can be taken to help solve the issues at hand, allowing the involved parties to explain their positions and give them a few immersion opportunities to experience their individual cultures.
Culture is a unique way to express the way one shows the world and others how different each one is. Culture affects the way one views the world and others. This is demonstrated in the stories “Ethnic Hash” by Patricia Williams, “Legal Alien” by Pat Mora, and “By Any Other Name” by Santha Rama Rau. These stories come together to show examples of how people of different cultures are viewed by others as different. Mora, Williams, and Rau all have very unique styles, and this is shown throughout the following quotes.
In Francisco Jiménez’s The Circuit Panchito has a hard life. He does not a live in a home, or sleep in a bed, nor does his family own furniture. In addition, Panchito does not have access to a full year of education and because both he and his family do not speak fluent English he has limited learning in an English teaching school. his ability to learn. Despite the fact that Panchito has many things going against him like the absence of a sound home atmosphere and of a proper education he has many gifts that help to defy his circumstances. He has the aptitude to work tenaciously and cordially and enough humility to ask for help. In spite of his rough living conditions, Panchito broke down the barriers put in his way.
We as educators must always act in the best interests of the children, while we seek to understand and embrace the different cultures by talking, listening and learning from the families and communities that surround us.
In the novel excerpt “Two kinds,” Amy Tan uses the central conflict to develop the theme through the clash of cultural identities. Tan shows the reader how culture is dynamic in each individual person. Culture can be mixed and change over time.
In such a multicultural world, being knowledgeable and understanding of not only your cultural background, but that of others is essential. Building my awareness on cultures different from my own, and how it shapes an individual’s identity, will foster my personal and professional development. Subsequently, I conducted a cultural interview with an individual whose cultural background differed from my own. Several similarities and differences between our cultures were apparent in the interview, specifically in the areas of race, ethnicity, language, values, and worldview.
In conclusion, this book gave me a whole new view on life and how we can interact better with different people. The book emphasized that culture is key to understanding people. Sometimes it is hard to connect with others because they are indicated as different but in due time we can adjust. Every culture has their own traditions when it comes to what they eat, what to wear, dating, various ceremonies, holidays and more. Reading this book helped me become more accepting of who I am and where I come from.
Teachers help us expand and open our mind by giving us skills throughout students’ early life to help students when they are older. By learning information from teachers, students become better people, in a couple of ways. Besides inquiring knowledge from their teachers, students learn to work with one another, open their mind to other peoples’ thoughts and ideas, respect one another, and learn different techniques for life’s issues.
Some people may still think that being from a certain culture is strange due to the way that a person dresses, acts, or portrays themselves. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine how they may feel. They may be the only person out of all their peers from a different background. Culture should not be the foundation of life’s choices but, instead should be the opportunity to change minds for the good of
This book serves to teach readers about the varieties of cultures, social
Experiencing a society of multi-cultures is beneficial through a variety of concepts to epitomize each individual identity. A person may vary in the degree to which he or she identifies with, morals, or...
Culture is presented as a source of conflict or pride for the characters and the effect of culture is to depict how non Western lifestyle is often neglected. The disregard for non Western culture is portrayed as negative, detrimental, and a source of identity crises for those whose culture is being neglected. Adichie manipulates culture throughout the novel in order to emphasize the importance of culture to personal identity and one’s authenticity, highlight the dangers of cultural intolerance and ignorance, and expose the misconception of the superiority of Western
Diversity and inclusion should also apply to humans; by bringing people together who are different, it can create a whole that is enhanced by the uniqueness of each individual. What are the dimensions of cultural diversity? In this week’s readings, the subject of dimensions of cultural diversity were covered comprehensively in both books. Understanding and Managing Diversity presented a nicely laid out illustration. Primary Dimensions Secondary Dimensions Age Geographic Location Gender Military & Work Experience.
Education is a very important aspect of our lives. It is our education that makes us who we are and determines what we become. Therefore, education is not something to be taken lightly. As a teacher, my goal will be to provide the best possible education for my students. Every student is unique. I must see students for who they are individually and respect their ideas and opinions. Each student has a different learning style. I must take this into consideration because I want to provide a constructive learning opportunity for every student. I believe that every student has the potential to learn.
Teachers serve as the guiding force in a student’s life. They are responsible for molding a student’s personality and shaping his/her mental orientation. Teachers deeply impact our lives and direct the course of our future. One cannot deny the influence of teachers in one’s life. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that, till a certain age, out life revolves around our teachers. They are our constant companions, until we grow old enough to come out of their shadow and move ahead on our own.