Ethnic Literacy Test: a Cultural Perspective Differentiating Stereotypes from Generalizations

Activity 30

Ethnic Literacy Test: A Cultural Perspective Differentiating Stereotypes from Generalizations

Purpose

To examine your knowledge of culture-specific information about certain ethnic groups within the United States and how this might impact teaching and learning.

Instructions

This exercise has two parts. In Part One, place a checkmark along the continuum that corresponds to the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements. Qualify your response in the space below. In Part Two, you will be given additional information and asked to consider the educational implications of this culture-specific knowledge.

Communication Differences

1.A newly arrived Mexican American child may have difficulty in reading words that begin with two consonants.

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2.Non-standard English, such as Ebonics, is a language system that has rules.

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3.Many Appalachians form some possessive pronouns by adding n.

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4.Ebonics, sometimes known as Black English, is a synonym for Black slang.

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5.Vietnamese children may experience problems in spelling words that end with a double consonant.

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6.Vietnamese children would have little difficulty reading polysyllabic words.

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7.All Native Americans speak basically the same language.

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8.Touching by a teacher and a Mexican American student results in lowered academic achievement.

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9.Touching the head of a Thai student signals respect.

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10.African Americans may interrupt a speaker with encouraging remarks.

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Value Orientations

1.Native Americans’ concept of time is the same as mainstream European Americans’ concept of time.

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2.Mexican American religious beliefs include the concept of fatalism.

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3.Appalachians have strong kinship bonds.

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4.African Americans have a strong work orientation.

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5.Native Americans usually prefer public rather than private recognition.

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6.Mexican American students generally desire to work alone rather than with a group.

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7.Appalachians adapt easily to urban life.

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8.African Americans tend to be deeply religious.

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9.For some African Americans, to avoid eye contact with authority figures is a sign of disrespect.

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10.Among Native Americans, the concept of private ownership is strong.

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Family Structures and Lifestyles

1.The African American family is matriarchal.

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2.The majority of Appalachian families are nuclear.

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3.The Appalachian family tends to be patriarchal, and boys are favored.

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4.Most Mexican American families represent the extended family pattern.

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5.Family roles are very specific and rigid in African American families.

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6.The Native American concept of family is similar to that of mainstream European Americans.

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7.Mexican American families are patriarchal.

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8.For most Native Americans and Asians, youths are honored and revered.

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Stereotypes and Generalizations

Because people cannot respond to each and every piece of information to which they are exposed they form categories as an attempt to simplify the world around them. Stereotypes refer to categories about people. Categories in general, and stereotypes in particular, are shortcuts in people’s thinking. As with most stereotypes applied to individuals, much of the content is inaccurate. We must thus be careful not to form stereotypes about people.

Generalizations, on the other hand, can be useful in people’s thinking and interacting with others. Generalizations refer to trends over large numbers of individuals (Brislin, 2000). For example, if 100 cases were studied in collectivist and individualistic societies, more collectivists would behave in a manner that emphasized their group’s goals, and more individualists would behave in a manner that emphasized their own personal goals. The concept of trends over large numbers of people is important to keep in mind whenever culture and cultural differences are discussed. We can use generalizations that are supported by the research literature in our discussions about culture, but should avoid the use of stereotypes.

The following are generalizations that can be made from the content of the Ethnic Literacy Test. The responses you will read are generalizations that can be supported in the research literature. One must keep in mind, however, that there will always be cases that do not conform to the generalization and will make discussions more fruitful and engaging. Extend the response to these generalizations by suggesting some implications for education that are related to the specific information presented.

Communication Differences

1.Newly arrived Mexican American children may have difficulty reading words that begin with two consonants. When compared with Standard English, the Spanish language has relatively few consonant clusters.