BRIDGING CULTURES IN THE CLASSROOM: HOW CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING ELEVATES SPEAKING SKILL

Abstract

This research aims to find out how bridging cultures in the classroom: how culturally responsive teaching elevates speaking skill. In this study, the researchers employed a case study as the research approach, accordingly the researchers had to categorize the collected data into different themes or group them into themes after recognizing them. The data used in this paper was collected through interviews that were conducted with 5 students from different cultural backgrounds in learning speaking, while the lecturer adopted culturally responsive teaching. Then the researchers found 4 important aspects in this research, namely: 1. Increased Participation and Motivation 2. Connection with the Material 3. Increased Self-Confidence 4. Perceptions about Learning Speaking. This approach also offers the students more opportunities to present their cultural experiences and thus, the levels of concern and passion among the participants will rise. Students feel a form of belonging therefore the content discussed in class is easy to grasp when the culture is taken into consideration. The colleges also gain the recognition and appreciation of their culture to further enhance student confidence in speaking in class. Moreover, this approach shifts the attitude of students regarding speaking skill acquisition and makes them more inclined to do so by responding to cultural practice. Based on the results of the study, it is evident that the enhancement of culturally sensitive teaching practices not only helps in enhancing the student’s speaking ability but also delivers a more meaningful learning process through appreciating the culture in which learning is drawn. Thus, culturally responsive teaching decreases class and educational establishment students’ stress due to cultural rejection and increases students’ comfort. It not only fosters academic advancements, but it also helps to enhance their cultural background. Therefore, learning comes along with privilege.