Researcher and multicultural education trainer Brian Vassallo, has had two of his studies published in the August issue of the International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, accessible at www.ijlter.org/index.php/ijlter.
The studies, entitled ‘A comparative study of multicultural awareness among in-service school teachers’ and ‘Bridging the cultural gap: Strategies for multicultural teaching and learning in Malta’ provide insights on the growing reality of multicultural education in Malta.
In them, Vassallo stresses the need for teachers to develop the skills necessary to deliver a culturally sensitive curriculum to their students. He says teachers often feel confused as to the roadmap they should follow to ensure they are sufficiently equipped to face the challenges of multicultural instruction.
The studies aim to provide a cultural framework and a set of precepts to serve as guidelines for teachers to critically examine their relationships with students and devise strategies for bridging cross-cultural differences.
They also delve into aspects such as cultural awareness, cross-cultural communication, culturally diverse families, multicultural learning environments, and assessment criteria for multi-ethnic students.
Vassallo may be contacted at e-mail brianvassallo@euroweb.net.mt.