Cultural Groups in the Classroom

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1 Cultural Groups in the Classroom CAU1 Task 2 Jessica Labo July 10, 2023

2 A1: Somali History of Immigration to the United States A1: Somali History of Immigration to the United States A1: Korean History of Immigration to the United States Korea is a large peninsula located in East Asia. Many people refer to this peninsula as the Chosen . Korea is located in between China and Japan. “North Korea is run by a Communist government, with Pyongyang and its capital city” and “South Korea’s government is an emergent democracy , and Seoul is its capital.” (Nash, n.d.) Over the years, there have been many people who have tried to invade Korea. Since there were so many invaders, Koreans had to fight hard for their culture and identity. Early on, Korea was divided into three different kingdoms. “These three kingdoms were Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla.” (Nash, n.d. ) The three kingdoms fought and were divided many times. In addition, there was a time when China and Japan also tried to take over. (Nash, n.d.) For several years, Korea was considered a Japanese colony which resulted in many problems for Koreans. Koreans had to deal with many economic issues and changes during this time because Japan used the majority of Korea’s crops for themselves. A small number of Koreans started using the United States as a refuge at the end of the nineteenth century. (Nash, n.d.) Koreans wanted to escape poverty, natural disasters, and government oppression. In more recent history, many women immigrated to the United States after World War II. When the Immigration and Naturalization Act was passed in 1965, more

3 Koreans immigrated to the United States, especially those who went to school to become doctors or nurses. A1: Ukraine History of Immigration the United States Ukraine is located near Europe and surrounded by the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus, and Russia. (Fedunkiw, n.d.) Ukrainians have a long history of fighting for their country, as well as their rights. Over the years, many have tried to take control over Ukraine. Between the fourteenth and fifteenth century, Ukrainians had to fight mainly for their religion and beliefs. Russia and Austria later took control over Ukraine during the eighteenth century. Ukrainians eventually started speaking Russian instead of Ukraine. Finally, in 1918, Ukraine declared to be independent. (Fedunkiw, n.d.) It was a long battle and Ukraine was finally able to declare independence in 1991. During the latter part of the nineteenth century, many Ukrainians started coming to the United States. Most of them came to the United States hoping to make more money since the United States paid much more than Ukraine. It was a difficult time for many because they had to leave their families and homes. Many Ukrainians would earn enough money so that they could eventually bring their families over. A2a. Korean Language The official language of Korea is Korean and is usually spoken by all Koreans, however there are some that speak Russian. The Korean language was written in the mid-fifteenth century and it has been used for over five thousand years. King Sejong created a phonetically- based alphabet called hangul and this was an alphabet that all Koreans were able to use. Koreans used the hangul to learn how to read and write. Some verbal communication guidelines that Koreans follow are that they typically look at a person’s posture and expressions to understand what he or she is saying rather than words. Koreans also do not like to respond by saying “no” to a question because they feel as if this could be considered negative. They are known to speak firmly because they do not normally use facial expressions. Smiling can mean that he or she is showing embarrassment or

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4 is ashamed of something. Additionally, Koreans may take a few seconds to respond to a question because it shows that they have placed thought into their response and it is considered being respectful. (Evason, 2016) A2a. Ukrainian Language Prior to 1991, many Ukrainians spoke Russian. The primary language spoken now is Ukranian. Their alphabet is made of 33 Cyrillic letters and every letter has an individual sound. Having specific sounds for every letter has been helpful to Ukrainians. They use the alphabet to help them phonetically pronounce their words correctly. (Fedunkiw, n.d.) Ukrainians follow certain guidelines while communicating with others. Most Ukrainians are generally indirect. They often use several words explain rather than getting to the point. Emotional expressions are not generally used and he or she would rarely ever use expressive words, such as “awesome.” (Ohbaidze et al., 2022) It is also important to keep a soft tone and it is considered impolite to speak loudly. A2b. Important Korean Traditions or Taboos Religion has always been very important to Koreans. Koreans follow different religions, but most follow shamanism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Those who follow shamanism believe that priests and shamans can touch and heal. Things in nature, such as the sun are considered holy to those who follow shamanism. Koreans who worship Buddhism follow the beliefs of Buddha and that life comes with suffering. Buddhism followers believe that people can overcome suffering by taking care of his or her mental state and/or meditation. Koreans who are Christians live by the Bible. Koreans celebrate many different holidays. They start off the beginning of every year with a celebration in which they refer to as Sol. This celebration lasts for 3 days and involves many festivities, such as dressing up and flying kites. (Nash, n.d.) Other days celebrated include, the first full moon, Yadu Nal (Shampoo Day), and Chusok (Thanksgiving Harvest). (Nash, n.d.) A2b. Important Ukrainian Traditions or Taboos Ukrainians have been known to worship pagan gods. They believed that the pagan gods

5 rule over the sun, stars, and moon. (Fedunkiw,) Christian traditions are also commonly practiced by many Ukrainians. Additionally, many Ukrainians who have moved to the United States are Catholic. Ukraine celebrates holidays using pagon beliefs and Christian traditions. (Fedunkiw,) Many holidays are celebrated, such as Christmas, Easter, and New Year’s. Most celebrations involve different songs and music. Music is a very important part of the Ukrainian culture. A2c. Socioeconomic Factors of Korea Before World War II, Koreans were unable to migrate so they took any job that they could get. Most of the jobs that they took were very little pay, however they felt obligated since they could not leave. When the immigration laws changed, many Koreans opened their own businesses, such as grocery stores and restaurants. In more recent times, more Koreans have had the opportunity to attend college. In 1980, the Korean American household income was higher than the average American household income, however most Koreans lived in urban areas and had more people living in their household. (Nash, n.d.) Koreans value education and most are highly educated. They have made education easily accessible to the Korean population. Since education is valued, children often go to college and study to be doctors, nurses, etc. A2c. Socioeconomic Factors of Ukraine The western part of Ukraine’s economy relies mostly on agriculture. In addition to agriculture, petroleum and natural gas fields are also a big part of the economy. Tractors, refined sugar, iron, steel, glass, and fertilizer are the main industrial products. (Fedunkiw, n.d.) Long ago, only wealthy Ukrainians had the option of receiving an education. Many went uneducated simply because they did not have the money to go to school. A lot of Ukrainians who were able receive an education went to school in Europe. After Ukrainians started moving to the United States, more and more children became educated in American schools. B1: Effects on Schooling- Korea Language could have a large impact on schooling. It can be difficult for students who

6 speak Korean to attend an English speaking school, especially if there is no interpreter who is fluent in the Korean language. It will be hard for the teacher to communicate with the student and parents. Learning and mastering skills may be difficult and impact learning greatly. On the other hand, since education is highly valued in Korea, parents will probably try to be as involved as possible and work hard to ensure that their child is successful. Koreans celebrate many of the same holidays as the United States, however they often celebrate them in different ways. Having culturally diverse students who celebrate differently can have a huge impact on schooling. Koreans celebrate holidays that are not celebrated in the United States, such as the first full moon. Educators must be aware that students may be absent from school on days that traditions are celebrated in their culture. It is important for students to be aware of how different cultures may celebrate differently. For example, Koreans like to celebrate by dressing up so it may be important to share this information with other students so that they can be mindful and accepting. Many Koreans understand the importance of an education. There are also more Koreans who are educated now than there were years ago. In all likelihood, valuing education will have a positive impact on schooling because Koreans will be more likely to encourage their children to work hard. Parents will probably also be involved. B1: Effects on Schooling-Ukraine Although the number of Ukrainians becoming fluent in English is increasing, there are still many Ukrainians unable to speak English. Language barriers can impact learning and may be challenging for Ukrainian students coming to American schools. Communication will be difficult if there isn’t an interpreter. On a positive note, it may be helpful to relate the English letters and/or sounds to the 33 Cyrillic letters used in Ukraine. Ukrainians celebrate many of the holidays that are celebrated in the United States, such as Christmas and Easter. They do celebrate holidays a little differently than most people in the United States. Ukrainians celebrate most holidays by dancing and listening to music. Having students who have different traditions or that celebrate different holidays can definitely impact

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7 schooling. It is important to make other students aware of different cultural traditions. Ukrainians could share with their peers the ways that they celebrate by sharing music or dances from their culture. Sharing cultural traditions may also promote positive relationships amongst students. The lack of education that Ukrainians experienced in previous years could possibly have a negative impact on schooling. Since many ancestors went uneducated, many Ukrainians may lack knowledge in certain areas. Educators should take this into consideration when teaching because some Ukrainian students may not receive as much help from home if their parents were unable to complete their education. B2. A variety of cultures are becoming a part of American classrooms. Students are coming from many different places, cultures and families. It is important for educators to create a comfortable learning environment so that all students feel welcome. Teachers must be knowledgeable of every student’s culture. It is important to know student’s beliefs, traditions, and customs. Students will feel a sense of acceptance if they know that their educator has a clear understanding of who they are. In order to create a culturally responsive classroom, it is important for all students to feel accepted. At the beginning of the year, it may be helpful for both Korean and Ukrainian cultures to participate in a “getting to know you” activity. This activity usually consists of student’s bringing in a bag of objects used to represent his or her beliefs. Objects may include, a picture of his or her favorite food or an object to represent a tradition. This activity allows for the teacher and students to learn about each other. Group discussions and having all students share ideas can also help students build relationships and get to know each other. Koreans and Ukrainians both eat different kinds of food. Having them bring in food or recipes to make different ethnic cuisines would be a great way for other students to experience a part of their culture. Students will have a better understanding of others if they learn about each other’s backgrounds and traditions. In addition to food, religion is also important to both

8 Ukrainians and Koreans. They celebrate most American holidays, however it would be helpful to learn about the different ways that they celebrate. For example, Ukrainians often celebrate with music and Koreans often celebrate by dressing up. It is extremely important for teachers to implement family outreach practices in order to create a culturally sustaining classroom. It is helpful to develop a strong relationship with the family by inviting them to visit the classroom or having them come in to share cultural traditions. It will also be useful to have a translator for the families if there is a language barrier. Teachers can also learn basic words in other languages, such as “Hello” and “Goodbye.” Having newsletters and other important materials translated will also be appreciated by the families. Communication is essential in order to effectively create a culturally sustained classroom.

9 Resources Crochunis, T., Erdey, S., & Swedlow, J. (2002). The diversity kit. Brown University. https://lrps.wgu.edu/provision/309833136 Evason, N. (2016). Korean Culture . Retrieved July 9, 2023, from https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/south-korean-culture Fedunkiw, M. P. (n.d.). Ukranian Americans. Retrieved from https://wwweveryculture.com/multi/Sr-Z/Ukranian-Americans.html Korean Peninsula. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.worldatlas.com/peninsulas/korean-peninsula.html Ohbaidze, K., Ivanytska, Y., & Hrynovetska, T. (2022). Ukrainian Culture . Retrieved July 9, 2023, from https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/ukrainian-culture Nash, A. (n.d.). Korean Americans, Retrieved July 9, 2023 from https://www.everyculture.com/multi/Ha-La/Korean-American.html

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