CHAPTER 1CULTURE AND ETHNIC GROUPS IN MALAYSIAJabatan Ilmu Pendidikan

MEANING OF CULTURECulture means the way of life.Culture is a way of life in any society which includes belief systems, values, beliefs, art, tradition and civilization.Seven cultural elements:LanguageKnowledge systemSocial organizationTechnology systems and equipmentLivelihood and economic systemReligious systemArt

Characteristics of culture

Learned Shared- clothing and foodBeing universal- exist in all human groupsInherited- can be passed down from one generation to another generation.Dynamic - modernizationHave a symbolic element -flags, logos and symbols The existence of worldview-

Roles of teacher in a multicultural societyMake the students understand the diversity of cultures and groups in the classroom. to educate students to be cultured as required to build the country's image to create character and identity.to foster national consciousness and nationhood based on characteristics of spirituality, humanity and mentality

CHAPTER 2AWARENESS OF SOCIO-LINGUISTIC ASPECT OF ETHNIC GROUP

RACEDefined as the similarities that each individual in a group share the similar characteristics such as common language, religion, cultures, live in a similar territory, live in the same country and become a citizen.It refers to a big group of people that practise moral ideas and law which is bounced by desire and one that experiences past history and stays within the territory of a country.Exists because of the united wish, intention or desire that emerged because of the feeling of unity between man and the environment.

CORE ELEMENTS IN RACEThe desire to achieve national unity of social cohesion, economic, political, religious, cultural, communication, and solidarity.Desire to independence, excellence, individualism, originality, or uniqueness.The desire to stand out among the nations excel in the pursuit of honour, influence, and position.

NATIONDescribed as the union of the same origin, customs, religion, and history.Exists because of the desire to live together with a superior sense of solidarity.Nation is a group of people that have the same character or nature.

LANGUAGEIs a communication tool used by every member in the community in any one race to communicate and interact with other people.Act as an important medium of information shared between members of society.Through language, human can adapt to the customs, attitudes, and societal rules.

LANGUAGE FUNCTIONUsed to fulfill a specific purpose, making the speech more meaningful.As medium of communication for people to interact with each other.Act as tool in sharing ideas, information and insights both implicitly and explicitly.Used to unite Malaysians of all races and it has become a tool for racial unity.Become a tool for bridging the members of society together in our country.

STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY OR SOCIAL CLASSCOMMUNITYRefers to a group of individuals living together.Being understood as a union of groups of people who interact in a particular living system.Interact to share a common culture.2) CUSTOMSUsed to determine the way people live.Involve the cultural bond the included ethnic or racial, based on gender, or due to shared beliefs, values, and activities.

3) SOCIETYA group of people who are related and perform activities collectively while living together.Determines a particular pattern of life and there is a distinct communication system.4) ETHNIC GROUP OR ETHNICITYA population of human beings whose members identify with each other, either on the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestry, or recognition by others as a distinct group, or by common cultural, linguistics, religious, or territorial traits. It can be of the same cultural practices in which they practise the customs, dress, language, and the same economic activity.

5) SOCIAL CLASSThe status or position of one group in the social hierarchy that reflects whether one group was in the upper class, middle or lower class. EXAMPLE: During the age of Malacca Sultanate, Malay society is divided into two groups; the government and the citizens.

CUSTOM AND RITUALSRefers to the rules and norms that are and have been in practice by a group of people through many generations.Considered very important to society and each individual needs to respects other peoples customs.It can be related to eating, tradition, and custom of engagement and marriage, and also birth.Practised by each race, and is still relevant, understood and accepted.

Customs of Malaysians in our country :Malay customChinese customIndian customPunjabi customEurasian customCustom of ethnic groups in SarawakCustom of ethnic groups in SabahCustom of Orang Asli

BELIEF SYSTEMIs a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing.In context of religion, it is part of the core of moral development.

TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION

QUESTION 1DISCUSS HOW TEACHERS CAN DEVELOP COOPERATION AND UNITY AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN TO CREATE A HARMONIOUS ATMOSPHERE AMONG PUPILS FROM DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS.

1. Instill moral values in teaching and learning activities.Teacher should incorporate moral values such as tolerance, fairness and respect to promote unity among pupils. Pupils working together regardless of their races and religion.

2. Provide the knowledge of cultural sensitivityPupils should be able to learn and know about sensitivity that exist in every culture.Teacher might ask pupils about their cultural background.

QUESTION 2AS AN EDUCATOR, SUGGEST SOME OF THE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES THAT CAN PROMOTE COOPERATION AND UNITY AMONG THE VARIOUS ETHNIC PUPILS.

Festivals celebration of any ethnic can give opportunity to all pupils to celebrate the festivals together. Teacher can invite all pupils from different ethnic to join the celebration. They can gather and share the happiness in the festival.For e.g, the school organize Eid celebration and invite all the pupils from different ethnic to celebrate it. They can wear their own traditional clothes and also bring the food to be shared with others.

ii. Promoting the use of Malay Language in Language Month at the national schools. Teacher can provide some competitions for the pupils such as Essay Writing Competition and Debate. The pupils can participate in groups that contain different ethnic and cooperate well to achieve the goals in the competition. Moreover, they can practice the language and the teacher are attempt to ensure tolerance and national consciousness among the pupils.

iii. Gotong-royong (cleaning up) school. As the school is the dominant place where all the pupils gather around, so teacher can have all the pupils to cleaning up the schools together. This is common activity for them to promote cooperation whereby they can also unite to complete the works or tasks given by the teacher. As long as they are working together, the unity can be developed and achieve the attachment among them.

TEACHERS ROLES

In the context of current education, teachers have a responsibility to educate students to be cultured as required by not only society but conform to the explicit and implicit elements in the National Philosophy of Education.

Thus, the teacher is responsible for understanding the diversity of cultures and groups among the students in the classroom. To realize their role, teachers need to improve their understanding of the cultural and ethnic diversity.

In this regard, two major cultural roles that need to be recognized by the teachers are to build the country's image to create character and identity and to foster national consciousness and nationhood based on characteristics of spirituality, humanity and mentality (Nasrudin Yunos, Centre for General Studies, UKM).

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