Part I. Theoretical basis of using different approaches for developing socio-cultural competence of the 8-grade learners

Increasing cultural and global knowledge 
Learning more about other cultures and being aware of current events is often 
key in learning about various cultural groups’ points of view. When working with 
people from different cultural backgrounds, it can be useful to learn about their 
culture’s practices, values, and beliefs. For example, learning about the languages 
spoken in their communities, child-rearing practices, or religious traditions can help 
us understand and interact with individuals and groups of various backgrounds. 
Conflicts that emerge between groups are often rooted in issues that may have 
deep historical origins. It is very helpful to understand these historical backgrounds 
that may help explain current events. For example, why do certain words or phrases 
that seem neutral evoke negative reactions with specific populations (e.g., “Where 
are you from?” or “You really should be appreciative of what I give you”)? Some of 
these phrases reflect long histories and current experiences of oppression and thus 
evoke 
hurt 
and 
other 
negative 
feelings. 
Hurt 
feelings among youth may 
impact 
their 
ability 
to 
develop trusting and strong 

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relationships with adults, which are necessary for youths’ growth and development. 
Similarly, some traditional events may evoke controversy as to their meaning and 
whether they should celebrated at all (e.g., Columbus Day). Regardless of what side 
of the debate you might align with, the first and most important step is to understand 
the issue. 
Fig. 1.The Art of Active Listening 
Self-assessment 
Reflecting critically on our own biases and prejudices helps to develop the 
skills necessary to effectively interact and engage with individuals whose cultural 
background is different than our own. Realizing that everyone has biases is an 
important step for building cultural competence. Our biases may stem from our 
backgrounds, experiences, or personal demographics, and these biases exist whether 
or not we are aware of them. 
The problem is when we deny or fail to acknowledge our biases. Our 
interactions and perceptions of others may be influenced by our biases. These biases 
may cause us to inadvertently act in ways that are discriminatory towards others. 
However, if we are aware of our biases, we can work to diminish our own 
prejudices and the implications they may have in our interactions with others. In 
fact, holding on to the belief that one is “color-blind” and unbiased is linked to 
unfavorable behaviors, such as miscommunication and lack of trust across racial 
groups, reluctance to help others from a different cultural group, and less ability to 
detect biased behaviors. Acknowledging that we all have biases and that we all hold 
stereotypes is the first step in cultural competence.