Culture Maps: A Tool for Building Competent Global and Multicultural Education Curriculum

Abstract

A recurring problem in global and multicultural education in United States of America is the issue of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. To resolve the problem is to lessen cultural conflicts in American schools. Thus, it is important to understand different cultures and their mores. It is a common knowledge that the first contact with different cultures always has the potential of causing conflicts and culture shock. Therefore, it is important to prepare students to understand the peculiarities of cultural differences in other societies and countries to avoid such difficulties. This paper intends to utilize cultural mapping to forge a new way of effective cross-cultural communication through tolerance, understanding and acceptance. Data was collected from students in selected non-American cultural backgrounds living in and outside United States and American students. The conclusions from diverse students’ own stories have led to appropriate strategy that would control prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination in our schools.