I can really relate to the video "What kind of Asian are you?" I can honestly say that I get asked "Where are you from?" and "Where are you really from?" at least a few times each month. When I was really young, it didn't bother me much. But now, I often feel offended that others make the assumption that I'm not from Canada because I don't look Canadian, or that I don't speak English because I'm Asian. It is both frustrating and upsetting, and I have often felt like an outcast because of it.
Although the video is a comedic skit, there is a lot of truth to it. Many of my friends have also shared similar stories with me where complete strangers have made assumptions and over generalizations about them based on their appearances. I don't necessarily think that people do it with the intention to harm, but I think it is important for people to know that comments or questions that seem harmless can sometimes be very harmful. I hope to teach my future students how to make connections with each other instead of just identifying their differences. It is likely that they will find many similarities when asking questions about their interests. Rather than creating silos among the classroom, I hope to embrace the diversity and use cultural differences as a learning and sharing opportunity among the students.
1 Comment
Jayse Van Rooyen
1/15/2018 02:53:52 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective on diversity in the classroom! It is so important to share your knowledge and what it means to you. I think it is great that you want to explore cultural differences and talk about them in your classroom!
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