Tutoring in a
Multicultural
Environment
Melanie Duda
Academic Success Center
Tutor Institute
April 13, 2006
Welcome
► Objectives
 Become more aware of culture and its role
 Discuss the importance of multiculturalism
 Discuss relationship between multiculturalism
and tutoring
 Learn strategies to improve tutoring in a
multicultural environment
►Awareness
of personal biases
►Communication skills
►Ways to learn about others
What is Culture?
► Tyler
(1871): “that complex whole which includes
knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom and
any other capabilities and habits acquired by man
as a member of society.”
► Contemporary: A set of standards (e.g. values,
morals, ideals) shared by the culture’s members
which, when acted upon by members, produce
behaviors that fall within a range of variation that
the members consider proper and acceptable.
Haviland 1997
Characteristics of Culture
►
Universal
 All human societies have culture
►
Shared
 Members agree to values, beliefs, and behaviors
►
Learned
 Process of enculturation, diffusion
►
Patterned
 Set of behaviors characterize groups
►
Unconscious
 Individuals embedded, culture taken for granted
►
Variable
 Worldwide differences, individual differences
Haviland 1997, Ember and Ember 1993
Cultural Variation
► Cultural
values differ worldwide
 Food, dress, rituals, social roles, health,
education
► Individuals
also perceive culture differently
 Subcultures
Important Distinctions
► Society:
A group of people who occupy a
specific location and may share common
cultural traditions.
► Ethnicity: The notion of shared nationalistic
origins and shared cultural values reflected
in societal classifications, created when one
group of people assumes an identity
different than those with whom they share
borders.
Haviland 1997, Loustaunau and Sobo 1997
What is Multiculturalism?
► The
Multicultural Perspective
 A lifelong commitment to and active
engagement in the process of seeking effective
and respectful interactions with members of
diverse populations
 Linked to cultural humility
►Self-critique
and evaluation to understand personal
attitudes toward others; assessment of the cultural
dimensions of the experiences of individuals;
flexibility to understand what is not known and to
seek new information
Tervalon, et al 1998
Why is Multiculturalism Important?
► College/university
populations are diverse
 Wayne State demographics
►19,553
Women
►13,781 Men
►8,788 African Americans
►137 American Indian/Alaskan Natives
►764 Latino
►16,694 White
►2,208 Undeclared
http://www.wayne.edu/profiles/student.html
Why is Multiculturalism Important?
►2,783
International students
 Canada
 India
 China
http://bog.wayne.edu/meetings/2006/01-25/academicaffairs0106-itemq.pdf
Why is Multiculturalism Important?
►
The world is becoming increasingly globalized
 The population of immigrants in the US is rising
 By 2050, 13% of Americans will be foreign born
►
Universities are comprised of diverse populations








Multiple ethnicities
Students with disabilities
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students
Non-traditional students
Differential socioeconomic status
Athletes
Musicians
Students in different majors
Perceptions of “Others”
► Culture
is pervasive
► It is difficult to see through the eyes of the
“other”
► This causes difficulties in cross-cultural
interactions




Ethnocentrism
Bias
Poor communication
Unsatisfactory results