1) Abril and Kelly-McHale attempt to describe culture at both invisible and visible.

What do they
mean by this? Explain these terms with specific references to the text. Additionally, consider
the culture/s you exist within and describe elements of visible and invisible culture in your life.
What can one see and what can one not see about your cultural embeddedness?
a. I think that noting Edward T. Hall (1977) used an iceberg as a metaphor for culture
(242). Clearly demonstrates this notion. The iceberg metaphor is a very common one
in anthropology and really helps to illuminate that the things that we see as culture
arent always all thats there. Much of culture is the nuance in day to day life. For
instance, the culture at JMU is to hold the doors for each other, and those who dont
do that are immediately seen as doing something out of the ordinary. Invisible culture
is the way that individuals live their lives without even knowing that it could be done
differently. Aspects of invisible culture are so deeply embedded and normative that
even cultural insiders can be unaware of these behaviors and habits of mind (243).
When students walk into a classroom they sit down and wait for the teacher to begin
class. We are culturally trained to do so. This can also be seen in simple
conversations, its rude to talk over someone or walk away mid-sentence. These are
all things unique to our culture that cant be seen, they must be learned through
emersion into the culture. The things like birthday parties, and tailgating are cultural
rituals that can be seen and those are what they mean by visible. Each culture has
these hidden nuances to how they live their lives and ignoring them ignores the
fundamentals of who they are and how they function. This could be just as insulting
as not holding the door open for someone, or even worse.
.
2) What do Abril and Kelly-McHale mean when they mention "culture guiding pedagogy,"
"curriculum follows culture," and " multidirectional learning spaces." Describe your
understanding of each term with specific references to the text.
a. Cultural guiding pedagogy- Utilizing a students culture can help to engage them in
the material being learned and help you to better adhere teachings to them in a way
they may better understand. Abril and Kelly Mc-Hale write the complex nature of
culture, described already, requires that we come to know students not as members
of this or that ethnic group, but as individuals with particularistic identities and
learning needs (249). The invisible and specific identity of these students when
attempted to be understood will make it easy to find ways to teach in a manner that
best fits their cultural profile. This makes it easier to teach to them, and for them to
learn.

b. Curriculum follows culture- I particularly like this idea. Utilizing the vast collections of
cultures in a room not only allows you to better connect with your student but gives a
large variety of music and content to work with. Each individual will have experiences
and backgrounds relating specifically to their heritage, including music from each of
the varying cultures gives an eclectic array of music for all of the students and a
comfortable place to start for those whose culture is being looked into. It also
validates and affirms the cultural backgrounds of all students so that teaching builds
upon their strengths and lived experiences (255) Allowing students to really connect
with the activity. That connection will bring confidence and ownership of the music
and help to encourage eventually the whole class to appreciate these varying
cultures so that theirs will also be appreciated.
c. multidirectional learning spaces- A multidirectional approach gives students a
chance to voice opinions, ideas, and concerns (257) which can be very helpful for
the students and the teachers. Especially in relation to culture, those who will teach it
best are the ones who know it. Allowing your students to help present their culture
gives them the opportunity to share some of the invisible aspects that as a teacher of
another culture you might have left out. This opportunity to share and lead again will
help give ownership of their learning experience and further invest them into the
material

3) In what ways might cultural competency be important (or not) for teaching, curriculum planning,
pedagogy, and classroom "management"? Why?
I think that it is import to make an attempt to relate to your students. They will know if you arent
invested in their education and if you dont care if they should succeed they may quickly not care
either. No students culture is inaccessible to a teacher who makes the effort to understand or to
learn to inhabit his or her world (249). If we as teachers even make the smallest effort to understand
and portray the importance of the varying cultures in our classroom it will encourage the students
and help them relate to topics further down the line. I think utilizing the knowledge students have
about their own culture not only helps you better portray that culture but truly gives the student a
better opportunity to succeed in the course. The issue then is allowing every students culture to be
explored. I think this is where classroom management comes in. You need to maintain control of the
class while still allowing students to explore other cultures and share their own. There needs to be a
system in which the cultures are taught and specific times in which assistance from students is
required to avoid issues. I think its also important to do this in the case of multiple students
identifying with similar cultures. Although the cultures are similar there are often big discrepancies in
culture just between families (think of Christmas traditions). This could cause an upset. So using
these cultures as tools is a wonderful way to help highlight a variety of music and encourage your
students but its important to be careful about how it is presented, especially if they are the ones

presenting parts of it. Overall, I think utilizing culture is a wonderful thing for a class to experience but
the application of it will be a tricky one, and will involve some trial and error. It is impossible to
accurately represent a culture you are not a part of, and even still there are huge differences within
individual cultures. I would say incorporate a multicultural teaching style into your life, but do so
cautiously.