Acculturation
From WikEd
Descriptions, definitions, synonyms, organizer terms, types of
According to the new dictionary of cultural literacy acculturation can be describe as "the learning of the ideas, values, conventions, and behavior that characterize a social group." Moreover, "acculturation is also used to describe the results of contact between two or more different cultures; a new, composite culture emerges, in which some existing cultural features are combined, some are lost, and new features are generated. Usually one culture is dominant (as in the case of colonization)." acculturation. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Houghton Mifflin (2002). Retrieved 19 November 2005, from xreferplus. http://www.xreferplus.com/entry/2445532
Children’s Acculturation Scale. The Children’s Acculturation Scale (CAS; Franco, 1983) consists of 10 items assessing language usage, language preference and proficiency, cultural identification, and social affiliation on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (Spanish only) to 3 (both Spanish and English) to 5 (English only). The CAS had an internal consistency of .77 and a 5-week test-rates reliability of .97 among a sample of first-grade children. The mean CAS scores increased significantly with education and age in a comparison of first, third, and sixth graders, and the measure clearly differentiated Mexican American students from their Anglo counterparts. The CAS also was significantly correlated with the ARSMA (The Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans): r = .76, p < .01 (Franco, 1983)
Application in and effects on classrooms and similar settings
The importance of acknowledging multiculturalism in the classroom cannot be understated. Often, there are cross-cultural problems from the different frames of reference of students that teachers must attempt to integrate in the classroom setting. Suggested complicating factors in succeeding at this are: 1) teachers are often surprised by immigrants unexpected behaviors, and 2) operating out of the belief in universals of human values and behaviors is seldom challenged (Clayton, 2003). Therefore, a significant starting point in addressing these issues is raising the awareness of teachers.
Evidence of effectiveness
Familialism has been suggested to be one of the most important cultural values of Latinos (e.g., Alvirez & Bean, 1976; Moore, 1970) and is often as important among other ethnic groups in the United States including Asian Americans, African Americans (Landrine & Klonoff, 1996), and American Indians (Mindel & Habenstein, 1981). Familialism is usually described as a cultural value that is related to a strong identification and attachment with nuclear and extended families as well as feelings of loyalty, reciprocity, and solidarity (Triandis, Marin, Betancourt, Lisansky & Chang, 1982). Indeed, studies have found that Hispanics value familialism more than do non0Hispanic Whites (e.g., Marin, 1993b)
Critics and their rationale
Alternative explanations due to Diversity considerations
Signed �?life experiences�?, testimonies and stories
Having been around Marines for the last twenty years I have noticed that no matte what the ethnic background a Marine is the work together and get the job done. When I was scrolling through WIKED I noticed this page on acculturation and had to read it. Everyone knows Marine Corps boot camp is hard, but I don’t think that people realize that one of the main functions is strip everyone’s ethnicity away and give them a new one; Marine. This may sound somewhat harsh, but their can only be one loyalty when it comes to war. The Marine Corps takes people from all over the United States and even the world and creates one cohesive unit that is known the world over as the finest fighting force. I think that this is a prime example of acculturation in action. –David Troyer
References and other links of interest
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Houghton Mifflin (2002). Retrieved 19 November 2005, from xreferplus. http://www.xreferplus.com/entry.jsp?volid=72&source=marc
Acculturation: advances in theory, measurement, and applied research / edit by Kevin Chun, Pamela Balls Organista, and Gerardo Marin (2003). Washington, DC : American Psychological Association
Clayton, J. (2003). "One Classroom, Many Worlds: teaching and learning in the cross-cultural classroom". Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
