Children with cultural backgrounds that differ may not be able to understand the feelings of the other classmates. For example, a student that comes from a wealthy family may not be able to understand the struggles of a student from an underprivileged family. These misunderstandings can lead to conflicts that end in verbal disputes. It can also alienate a student from the rest of the group because the other children can’t relate to the real-life stories or customs of the alienated student.
Cultural differences leave a communication gap between children. This is apparent as children begin to feel effected by hormonal changes. They start to pull away from the opposite gender because they feel the rift in their communication. Girls pursue different hobbies and lifestyles than boys due to their cultural upbringing, which further leads to the alienation. This can halt communication in the classroom between boys and girls until they reach the higher grade levels when hormonal changes start to even out.
Sometimes the misunderstandings in the classroom stem from simple language barriers instead of confusion stemming from a cultural background. For example, a student that enters a classroom after an intercontinental move can experience confusion while he adjusts to the new language. A heavy accent or incomplete grasp of the native language can leave him feeling separate from his classmates. Even people from the same country can suffer these misunderstandings. For example, when a child moves from a community heavily versed in Ebonics, he may have trouble communicating properly with his fellow classmates.
Cultural diversity isn’t all bad in the classroom. When a child with a different cultural background from her peers enters a school, there may be curiosity about her background. Children may ask her to share her experiences, allowing her to enrich the other students with knowledge of her culture. This curiosity improves the confidence of the new student and opens the gates of communication and sharing. In turn, the children of the school may share information about their backgrounds, enriching her understanding of her new environment.