Building and Enhancing New Literacies

Across Curriculum
 
Chapter IV

Multicultural Literacy,
and
Social Literacy
Chapter 4

Multicultural Literacy and Social Literacy

Introduction
Multicultural literacy refers to the skills involved when uncovering bias in regards to
culture, as well as the ability to take different perspectives to gain a more humane
perspective.
Social literacy means the presence of social skills, knowledge and positive human
values that support ability in human beings to act positively and responsibly in range of
complex social settings and their ability to successfully and deliberately mediate his/her world
as family member, worker, citizen and lifelong learner.

Specific Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students are expected to:

 explain the importance of promoting learning of other cultures and of having healthy
skills in a multicultural setting.

Duration
Chapter IV: Multicultural Literacy and Social Literacy = 6 hours

Lesson Proper
Lesson 1: Multicultural Literacy

Multicultural literacy serves as a powerful tool in enabling students to gain a better

understanding of both their own culture and the cultures of others. Through this deeper
knowledge, relationships can be strengthened, bridging the gap between students from
diverse cultural backgrounds.
Multicultural literacy refers to the skills involved when uncovering bias in regards to
culture, as well as the ability to take different perspectives to gain a more humane
perspective. It is important for students to be multi-culturally literate. Students need to be
able to take the perspectives of different cultures to allow themselves to grow into
responsible citizens, who consider other people’s opinions.
Anything written about a person or group of persons who is/are outside the dominant
power structure of a country or region. Includes people:

•of different color

•of different religions
•with different ethnic backgrounds
•with developmental or physical disabilities
•who define themselves as LGBTQ

Multicultural literature serves as a powerful tool in enabling students to gain a better

understanding of both their own culture and the cultures of others. Through this deeper
knowledge, relationships can be strengthened, bridging the gap between students from
diverse cultural backgrounds (Hseu & Hetzel, 2000). As students of the 21st century are
global participants, it is important that they possess cultural sensitivity. Through extensive
research, Norton (2009) has discovered that when students can relate global events to the
themes, conflicts and characterizations found in multicultural literature, it helps them to better
understand current world issues. Students therefore develop greater cognitive skills as they
learn to engage with and critically evaluate the texts that they read.

Suzanne Evans (2010) conducted research on critical literacy using a range of

multicultural picture books. Her aim was to determine whether student perspectives on
diversity and the acceptance of others altered once they were exposed to multicultural texts.
Evans concluded that exposure to multicultural literature increased students’ awareness of the
various social practices, values and belief systems of other cultures. These themes are a major
focus in the Australian Curriculum, with a general capability strand dedicated to intercultural
understanding, which is incorporated throughout each of the key learning areas.

Promotes empathy and unity

Multicultural literature fosters positive self-esteem and prevents students from feeling
isolated. It has the ability to nurture respect, empathy and acceptance among all students.
Whoever You Are (Fox, 1997) is an older publication that illustrates perfectly how
multicultural literature can promote unity among different cultures. The story highlights the
fact that all children feel the same emotions no matter where they live in the world, what
language they speak, or how they look. It suggests that although people have many
differences, there are common traits that unite us.

Promotes cross-cultural friendship

Multicultural literature promotes the interaction of children across differing ethnic
backgrounds. Stories portraying cultural diversity can foster the belief that race is not a
barrier, but rather a contribution to the beauty of our multicultural world. This ideal is
portrayed in Kobald’s My Two Blankets (2014). A young girl named Cartwheel relocates to a
westernised country to escape the war that is occurring in her homeland. She feels lost and
lonely until she meets a young girl in the park. Over time their friendship develops and the
young girl helps Cartwheel to understand her new world.

Helps students look critically at the world

Multicultural literature can help students develop global awareness by introducing them to
current cultural issues. When students vicariously experience the feelings and emotions of
others through literature, they are encouraged to look critically at the world and gain a greater
understanding of the global community.

Encourages identity formation

Multicultural literature can also assist students with their identity formation. Identity
formation is important in the social development of all children, as it gives them a sense of
belonging and acceptance in society. Inclusion of multicultural literature in library collections
confirm that the beliefs and experiences of minority students are valued. When students see
themselves reflected in the pages of literature, they are more likely to engage with a text.
Smith’s (1995) case study confirms this, revealing that African- American students prefer to
read texts they can relate to culturally, increasing their interest in reading. Familiar concepts
in multicultural literature help to build security, familiarity, and confidence, which can lead to
an improvement in student learning (Agosto, 2007).
Strategies Contributing to Reinforce Multicultural Literacy

Reading multicultural
books and stories

Providing authentic
Watching multicultural cultural environment
movies and TV programs and situational episodes
for students

Creating thematic
Teaching tips and Redesign teaching activities for students to
customs of different materials inclusive understand the
cultures multicultural literacy difference of different
cultures

Lesson
2: Social Literacy

What is Social Literacy?

 Social Literacy is the ability an individual has to connect effectively with those
around them by interacting, maintaining, and building relationships.
 Social Literacy is successful when an individual can intercede their world as family
members, workers, citizens, and lifelong learners.
 Social literacy helps students combine all of the features of literacy and uses them to
communicate with others so students are able to express their own thoughts.

Social Literacy is a student’s successful performance and understanding of social

Skills, organizational skills, and communication skills. It is the student’s ability to connect
effectively with those around them. Social literacy spans across interacting with peers,
family, co-workers, teachers, and even people we may not have met face to face. Social
literacy is so crucial in a person’s success. The ability to communicate and voice opinions
and thoughts, as well as listening to opinions and thoughts of others, is essential in learning.
Firmly grasping social cues and norms is extremely 1beneficial. In literally every single
setting of our lives, school, home, work, clubs and activities, interacting with people
(whether face to face or behind technology), we use our social literacy. We play so many
roles and we socially need to understand how to play those roles appropriately

Social literacy concerns itself with the development of social skills, knowledge and
positive human values that enable human beings to act positively and responsibly in range
of complex social settings. It is the knowledge of how to behave and treat other people in a
way that is morally upright, just and equitable, with a view of promoting positive and
productive relations that are free from unfair prejudices.

By morally upright, we refer to thoughts, speech, actions, and behaviors that are in-
line with a fixed standard of justice—a system that promotes and rewards good and at the
same time punishes wrongdoing. Any system of justice, whether national, regional, or local,
requires a body of rules or laws by which to measure and administer rewards and
punishment. Equitable are the speech, actions, behaviors, and decisions that treat others
fairly, regardless of background or circumstances. Not to be confused with equality, which
connotes a fixed standard treatment for all people , equity seeks the good of others, and
labors to find means by which everyone gets “what they need” rather than simply “everyone
gets the same thing in the same amount.”

Why Is It Important?
It is important to make sure students interact in groups. By working in groups in the
classroom the students are practicing social skills that can be applied within and outside of
the classroom.
As we become more dependent on technology, we are beginning to interact less with
each other face to face. Social literacy helps prevent against bullying when young people
learn how to express themselves correctly. They will learn how to handle situations with
teachers and peers in person in lieu of through just technology.

How Can This Be Taught?

 Simply by modelling appropriate behaviors a teacher can help the students learn
social literacy.
 This should be taught to children through communication in order to obtain great
social skills. This can be done by showing them how to interact with family, friends,
and colleagues in and out of school.
 Using Social Literacy online, during a group project, or communicating with a
classmate is an important way for students to practice the basic concepts of literacy.
If students are exposed to social literacy they will become more confident socially in
and outside of the classroom. They will be able to voice their opinions through social
literacy.

How Is It Changing?
Traditionally we have focused on teaching students to improve their social,
communication, and organization skills in the classroom. In today's changing society we
have moved from encouraging a strict definition of social skills as conversation skills to a
more broad understanding of Social Literacy. Today it is important to tie in technology
when teaching social literacy, because this is an important feature of how individuals
communicate.
Social networking websites are one of many tools that can be used to help students
practice social literacy. Students of all ages can use these tools to practice the skills of social
literacy which are reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Ways to incorporate social literacy in a face to face environment:

Group projects – group projects give students opportunities to interact face to face and
experience social interactions. It is so crucial that students learn to interact with people
effectively and contribute their part.
Peer reviewing – peer reviewing teaches students how to give constructive advice and
communicate their thoughts well. To be able to give constructive criticism and view another
person’s ideas is an important ability.
Field trips – taking students to a museum or to volunteer in an area in need could help
students open their eyes learn about different societies. On any field trip, even learning how
to travel in groups, communicate with people in charge, and work together as a group will
be effective in teaching students to be socially literate.

Ways to incorporate social literacy online:

Blogging – Through blogging, students learn how to effectively use the internet and share
their thoughts and knowledge appropriately. Reading classmates blog posts and responding
helps students learn from others and give them access to other ideas, as well as a chance to
constructively respond.
Class website – A class website is extremely useful in teaching students how to use and
navigate on the internet. Keeping students updated on class happenings, as well as giving
students opportunity to write and contribute on the class website will teach them useful
skills in communicating on the internet.
Video conferencing – Video conferencing has endless possibilities. Whether it is
conferencing with a professional in the community, or students from a culture across the
world, it opens up a realm of social interaction that can teach students so much about people
in the world around them.

References/Additional Resources/Readings
 Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management December 2015, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp.
77-87