Group Member Names:

Kasper Lee

Study Guide: Multicultural Classroom, Monocultural Teachers by Terry Dean

Part 1: Summary
This is an article which is for teachers who have problems teaching immigrant students. Terry
Dean is a teacher who has taught ESL classes and has encountered some problems with his
teaching. He explains that American classrooms prefer only one kind of culture or are only
aware of one culture in the class. He said that teachers need to develop their pedagogical way
into the student cultures. The main problem of this is the cultural dissonance that students
experience when they attend mainstream classes.
Part 2: Outline
I.

Teachers should acquire more knowledge about students

1. To educate self about the individuals and cultures.

II.

Teachers want students to enter the mainstream.

1. Provide them the tools

2. Need to concern ourselves more with providing student access to academic culture.
3. Teachers have an obligation to raise this issue.
III.

Teaching about the culture.

1. Teachers teach composition.

2. Teachers teach how mainstream Americans view the world.
3. Students have less of a chance for success when there is dissonance between the
childs culture and the culture of the school.
IV.

American classrooms prefer only one class of culture.

1. Working-class and farm children struggle to acquire the academic culture.

2. Working-class and farm children work hard for they have no talent.
3. It is more difficult for students who are outside the culture.
V.

Acculturation itself poses problems.

1. Cultural conflict affects every aspect of a students well being.

2. There is hope for this problem.
Part 3: Key terminology with definition
Mainstream-common current
Monocultural-single culture
Dissonance-lack of agreement
Working class-low class or poor class
enculturation-the process whereby individuals learn their group's culture, through experience,
observation, and instruction.

Part 4: Discussion Questions

What is the purpose of this article?
Why do teachers need to acquire more knowledge about student?
What is the problem with working class students who attend class?
Part 5: Analysis
Terry Dean is a teacher who has tried to help students and teachers solve the problem of
multicultural classrooms. He wants teachers to acquire more knowledge about students in
multicultural classrooms. American classroom settings prefer only one kind of culture. In the
American school system, the different classes of students make it hard for students to attend
class, which leads students to learn much less.
Part 6: External Sources
Colbert, Judith. "Bridging Differences with Understanding: Helping Immigrant Children Be
More Ready to Learn." Earlychildhood NEWS. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 June 2015.
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleId=475
Dean, Terry. "Multicultural Classroom, Monocultural Teachers." (n.d.): n. pag. Mary Jo Reiff.
University of Kansas, 9 Jan. 2004. Web. 18 June 2015.
http://mjreiff.com/uploads/2/9/1/7/2917319/dean.pdf