Language is a large part of a student's culture. It is a student's tool for communicating and interacting with the world at large. The sound and structure of her language gives definition to a student's personality. Preserving these languages in the classroom gives students from various backgrounds the foundation to respect people that speak differently from them and can inspire a student to learn a different language.
Race and ethnic background shape a student's experience of the world. The presence of multiple ethnic backgrounds in a classroom gives a teacher the opportunity to teach students respect for diversity. A classroom setting also provides a sense of unity between a diverse group, which will open a student to a broader understanding of the world.
A student's socioeconomic standing has a profound affect on how he approaches problem solving and work. A combined class with students from all socioeconomic levels requires a student to learn about others from different economic backgrounds. A teacher can point out what the students have in common, instead of what is different, to promote tolerance.
Where a student lives exposes her to a specific culture. This culture is reflected in the student's family life, celebrations, religion and art. For example, July 4 is an American holiday celebrating independence, but May 5 is the Mexican celebration of independence. These two holidays are celebrated in different ways, but they share some similarities, such as fireworks and parades. A teacher can use differences like this to educate a student and allow her to share a joyful part of her own culture.