As I sit here in my apartment at a large state school with a
low number of minorities, one thing occurred to me while I started to
contemplate what the causes of cultural assimilation are. Diversity is the key
to breaking down cultural barriers and enables cultural and social assimilation
among people. 
For large institutions such as Texas A&M University,
there needs to be not only a focus on diversity in the classroom but a platform
for individuals to express themselves in a manner that will enable them to truly
get to know one another. Pierre Dulaine, a champion ballroom dancer
discusses his effort to use dance as a mechanism to do this saying, "Sitting
next to each other doesn't get you to know another person in the classroom, but
having danced with one another somehow is a different thing. And I think this is a success of Dancing
Classrooms." (A link to the rest of
Dualine’s interview can be found here)
Although dancing is a great way to break down barriers, there are many other ways to do so. Sports, joining organizations, and being proactive are all great ways to do so but the most efficient and effective way to truly understand another cultural background is by simply learning about it without a judgmental eye.
According to the U.S. Department of
Education study stated that less than 8 percent of U.S. undergraduates take a
foreign language course and less than 1% attain foreign language degrees. Language is at typically the root of most cultures. As Americans, if we can take a stance to learn about other cultures through language we can understand diversity not only on a local level but on an international level as well.
I agree that encouraging students to learn more about cultures through language and other practices would help with diversity initiatives designed to build tolerance and understanding. We are no longer living in a world where we can hide in our corner. Whether we like it or not, globalization has taken hold and we will encounter those different from us on a daily basis. It is in our best interest to try to understand other cultures.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that language is the major key to learning about another culture. I think the issue is that foreign languages are introduced too late in a student's education and the required number of years to take is too few. I think that a foreign language should be taught first at the elementary school level. Then it should be continued on through high school and into college. That way a new language can be absorbed while we're very young and then practiced and mastered as we get older.
ReplyDeleteDiversity is a message that has been preached since the world began. we should just acknowledge and celebrate our differences because we are all unique and beautiful in our own ways. I find it so interesting and intriguing to learn about other people's culture. It's so beautiful. I love the diversity, things would have been boring, if we were all the same.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with your stance on diversity and the fact that we as people should be more understanding and truly learn to live without a "judgmental eye." I love how you connected the other article and how you truly get to know other people by dancing with them. I also completely agree on the fact that we as Americans should learn other languages at a younger age. I believe the outside view of Americans and America in general comes with many negative connotations, and I agree that the starting place to change that perspective is language. I also agree with Dimitri's comment on how foreign languages should be taught during our elementary school years. That way we as individuals are more adept to the world outside of the United States. Great read!
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