Blog Assignment Week 3

                           Diversity and Communication:

                             

Communication

Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?

       If yes, in what ways do you communicate differently? I don't find myself communicating with people from different groups or culture differently. I find myself  communicating the same with everyone. I try to treat people "as they  themselves would like to be treated" ( Beebe, Beebe, Redmond, 2011 pg.114). The  Platinum Rule is a way I been communicating with children and their families. Shouldn't matter if your culture is different people are people and we should respect their space. I also don't like when I see group of children or people treat another person different because they don't look the same or dress the same as their group. "Cultural Myopia is especially dangerous when members of the dominant group in a society are unaware of or are insensitive toward the needs and values of members of others in the same society" (O'Hair, Wiemann 2012 pg.45). This behavior is so inhumane and so wrong I do not condone this type of behavior. However nonverbal communication I am finding myself becoming more aware of different signs and expressions on people faces and hand movement. Sometimes I can have a mom walk in my class and her face expressions tells me that she is having a rough morning. I will remind them to take it easy and not to worry or just give them hug. I truly believe their energy can rub off on my student and they will have a bad morning. Positive energy is a the key for a good and bless day.

Reference:
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

• Chapter 4, "Interpersonal Communication and Diversity: Adapting to Others" (pp. 85–114)

Communication Skills and Styles

                                                         AMERICAN PICKERS
I decided to watch the American Pickers. This Episode is from January 29th,2014. It was called
                                                  "For a Few Dollar More"

Watch the show with the sound turned off.
What do you think the characters' relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating? During the episode it was located in Colorado. In the beginning it showed the one Lady talking on the phone to one of the Gentlemen and they were laughing and smiling. Next part the two men were in their Van driving and it look like they were looking for a location. They stop and got at of the Van and walked into a building were a older lady walked over to them and she was smiling and shook their hand and gave them a hug. It look like they knew each other and was happy to see one another. The next thing I notice the men were picking up different things and they were talking to her and her face expressions were different every time they would pick up something in her store or building.
What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing? There seem to be a lot of smiles and laughing and hugging. I also look as if they know each other because when the men met the lady in the store she hug them both and she was smiling and laughing. They seem to be very happy during this episode.
Now, watch the show with the sound turned on.
What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed? OMG! The two guys call back to their shop and talk to the girl Daniel in their shop about where to go and pick and the location she sends them to are usually the people want to sell their items. This trip the one guy happen to know the lady from before. I was right!!! He met her  couple of years ago at a auction.  the lady was selling items from her families shop that they had over the years. She was planning on moving away. When they wanted to buy something from her, she would give them a high price and they would give her a lower price. The face expression really told the story. It really seem like she told them high prices because she didn't want to sell her items. At the end she sold the items but each items seem to have some type of value that the men could sell it at a high price once they resell them.
Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well? I think  my assumption would have been more correct if I really watch this program. I was totally surprise that I was right about some of my assumptions. This was not a easy program to follow because they kept showing different pictures from the pass.
 

COMMUNICATION:

Who Demonstrates Competent Communication :

                                                                OPRAH WINDREY
There is no one who demonstrates competent communication more than Oprah Winfrey. She is not only a entrepreneur but she is a gifted speaker who brought life to the way she communicate. Through-out her journey of her TV show. Oprah was able to capture millions of viewer hearts by the way she spoke and communicated on her program. She is able to show compassion for her guest on her show and listen to what they have to say. She is a extraordinary philanthropist who have one of the biggest heart in the world. Her activism and charity have help million of children around the world. Oprah have demonstrate the ultimate respect for honesty, fairness among diverse people."Winfrey is a dedicated activist for children's rights; in 1994, President Clinton signed a bill into law that Winfrey had proposed to Congress, creating a nationwide database of convicted child abusers. She founded the Family for Better Lives foundation and also contributes to her alma mater, Tennessee State University. In September 2002,"( www.people.com/people/oprah_winfrey)

There is no doubt in my mind I would love to model some of my communication behavior after Ms. Oprah Winfrey. Her disposition alone inspires me to be a better communicator and listener. she encourage me to be compassion, respectable to others by being good listener and communicator. These skills will enhance my ability to become a better educator among those who face hard time because of their culture, religion, and diverse life style.

Reference:
www.people.com/people/oprah_winfrey

Professional Hopes and Goals

 


Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice:

 “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length) Everyday I pray to God for a better place for families who are less fortune but  I also pray for equity and justice for those who are being mistreated by prejudice, microaggression and discrimination. “People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite... Man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never explained.” Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom     I hope one day there will be no more prejudice and discrimination in this world. I hope by teaching children at a young age about equity and social justice will help develop better society. 
One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice (any format and any length) Through-out my studies and working win early childhood field. I would love to have families and children from all ethnicity work together saving our children from poverty. As a educator I realize education have no color, no shape, and no size and it doesn't even matter if you are gay or Christian. We need to put all of these thing aside and educate our children prevent poverty from happening. “Over coming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.”    Nelson Mandela

 A brief note of thanks to your colleagues:

I want thank my colleagues, for such a great semester. I have learned  so much more about diversity and "ism", equity and social justice through-out your post and discussions. It feels great to know we can fight this battle together. May God bless all of you.

Reference:
www.good.com/author/quotes/Nelson Mandela/

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The name of “your” family’s country of origin Laos:

 

Children of Laos

 

At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family:
1. Learn about their native language: This is important because children will be speaking in their native language for many thing it is important that I know some words  to help them feel comfortable in class. for example their language "Lao (or Laotian) belongs to the Tai language family which also includes Thai, Shan, and languages spoken by smaller, related ethnic groups in Laos, Thailand, Burma, southern China, and northern Vietnam. The languages in the Tai family all share a common grammar and tone structure.
-Lao is spoken not only in Laos but in Northeastern Thailand, an area called “Isan”, and the language itself is often called “Isan” (or pha-sa Ee-san) in Thailand. The languages are basically the same but have some differences between them which developed because of historical differences between the Isan area and Laos.
-The Lao language has many regional varieties in both Laos and Northeastern Thailand. This web site (and the phrasebook on the web site) describe the language as it’s spoken in Vientiane, the capital of the Lao P.D.R. The main difference between these varieties is tonal - different varieties will have some changes in tone from the Vientiane Lao tone chart. There are also some differences in vocabulary from region to region"(thailao.netlaofact).
2. Learn about their culture: Learning about the culture would help me to understand why the children may act the way they do especially if they are to loud or they don't talk at all. For example,"Laos was once known as Lan Xang, meaning "the Kingdom of a Million Elephants." It was given the name by King Fa Ngum in 1353.  In a home setting, meals are served while siting on a mat. The Lao eat with a fork in the left hand. Some ethnic minority languages have never been codified in written form. A small percentage of older people and those who attended high school prior to.       The eldest man is the patriarch of the family. The Lao have great respect for their parents and elders. Among the Hmong, the household. Lao women wear western- style blouses with colorful calf-length, sarong-style skirts made of locally hand-woven materials in multicolor designs and fastened with a silver link"(www.wveryculture.com).
3. The third thing I would prepare is custom. When children come from another country it is very hard for them to get use to new custom. I would want the class to learn their custom and than help teach our new student our custom so it is important to know their custom. For example during nap time it will be hard for many of the children to go to sleep because many of them never sleep by them self. Majority of their meal is served with sticky rice it will take sometime before they get use to having a meal without the sticky rice.

4. The fourth way is asking the family if I could visit their home so I could get a better understanding of their culture. I would asked if the children would also like to bring something from home to make thing a little more comfortable for them. This is common at our school, especially when we have a new student that comes from another country we ask the parents if we can visit their home so the children or child can feel comfortable with us in their own environment.

5. The fifth way I would ask the families if they would like to come into the class and sit with their child one day during the week for the day to make child feel comfortable and the parent feel at easy. This would set the tone for the new families here in their new school.

 A brief statement in what ways you hope that these preparation will benefit both you and the family?
 I  would hope the family would feel the warm and the welcome from the other children in the class. I would want them to be as comfortable as if they were still in their country. The most important benefit I want them to know is that I am here from them if they need me and my staff is also here for them.

Reference:

www.thailao.netllaofact.htm

www.everyculture.com
 




                          







   

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

This was the most unforgotten day every for all people of all cultures. People from all over died that day because of one person of hatred in their heart. Therefore many people suffered in many ways because of this incident. Thousands of people were killed and injured and a terrible war begin against  a  culture or should I say against Muslim and I mean all Muslim people. There was a bias and microaggression happening against all Muslim or Islamic people. We were target as terrorist and  are religion was also target as  terrorist practice. Millions of Islamic people around the world watch a small group of terrorist destroy the repetition and credibility of our faith and our religion go down the hill. People all over the world believe that all Muslim or Islamic people are terrorist. This type of microaggression and discrimination was not only hurtful for me but people didn't even want to know how beautiful our religion was and how much we love God and his grace for us. 

 

 

What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

In order for anyone to understand other people culture. We must not pass judgment on people. We need to treat everyone equal and if one person in a religious group or some type of group want to act crazy . Please , don't blame or make the whole group of people suffer because sometimes it is just that one person or that one group of people and not the whole community. Dr. Martin Luther King states "I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright day break of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believed that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word" ( King Jr., 1963).

 

Reference

www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm‎

:

 

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html#LRgIgRlUOVr178Ye.99

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html#LRgIgRlUOVr178Ye.99

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html#LRgIgRlUOVr178Ye.99

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html#LRgIgRlUOVr178Ye.99

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html#LRgIgRlUOVr178Ye.99

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

                                Discrimination, Prejudice, Stereotype
Thursday January 30, 2014:
Location; Local Pharmacy

On my way home from work I stopped by the Local Pharmacy to see if my prescription was ready for pick-up. When I walked in the store I notice that their was about three teenager gathered at the magazine area. They were laughing and having a good time looking at something. while waiting in line I overheard one of the ladies in line say  "we need to hurry up and get out of this store those type of people will rob you in the day time" I walked toward the two ladies and said "So if they were a different race they wouldn't rob you?" The ladies look at me and walked out of the store. I got back and line and waited for my prescription. When it was my time to talk to the cashier behind the booth. The cashier asked me what happen. I told her what the lady said about the three boys at the magazine area and what I said to her. The cashier said, that lady must be prejudice because she complained about every minority who work in this store and accused them of stealing from her.

 I was really upset because I not only observed micro aggression but knowing if I didn't say something to this lady then I was accepting her micro assault toward those boys and myself being a minority.

I truly believe what I witness this week validates my perception of people who discriminates, prejudice and stereotype other people. They are ignorant and they don't know any better. They have been taught hatred and to harm others just because they are different.

Dr. Martin Luther King: " I look to a day when people will not be judge by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" ( King Jr., 1963).

reference:
www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm