After reading this week’s article by Atkinson I take away many thoughts regarding the term culture. The one part that has stuck with me since I have read the article was in the conclusion section. Atkinson mentions that it is his belief that we can develop a “notion of culture in TESOL that takes into account the cultural in the individual, and the individual in the cultural.” However we talk about culture, whatever way we try to define the term, it is important to remember the individual. As teachers, we are dedicated to learning about each of our learners and putting together their cultural puzzle.
I am beginning to think that each person has their own culture. They draw upon cultures around them and pull ideas from many different cultures to develop their own cultural identity. I am an elementary teacher so bear with me, culture is like an “onion.” Each layer is a culture that an individual prescribes to and there are many different layers that make up one person.
Cultures vary from person to person, therefore it is important not to assume that since someone is a certain race, or hang out with a group of people, they take on all cultural traits of a particular group of people. Another exciting idea is that culture is always changing and growing. It is a living idea changing with people and society. Whenever people interact with each other they expose their culture. Anytime two or more cultures interact with each other they have the potential to influence each other. This is an interesting thing to think about, since I interact with so many people on a daily basis.
