Individualism vs. Collectivism
Individualism vs. Collectivism
According to the Britannica dictionary, the former term means " the political and social philosophy that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual"; and according to Oxford languages, the latter term means "the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it."
In this society, we have a place as individuals, and we form part of a community, for some countries individualism is more important than collectivism, and in others is vice versa.
In education, these terms are significant, and the cultural differences that these can cause inside a classroom can be meaningful. A TESOL or an ESL teacher has the challenge that in their classes, they have many students of different cultures, and there might be students that prioritize individualism, and there might be others that prioritize collectivism. I think that the teacher needs to find a middle ground, where they respect each student's culture, and they also teach them that both concepts can be both important and useful. The teacher can educate them on how to work as a group, a community, and how to be their unique person and shine inside the said community.
Even if there are dilemmas with cultural differences, the teacher should always remember that the students come first, and to teach to be respectful to other cultures is important. I also believe that the teacher should show them that learning new things and being open-minded can be a great quality that can help in their lives. Each student is unique, and students should learn to appreciate that uniqueness.
To finish, I would like to share a quote about what I think teachers should focus on:
“We need an education that enhances individual strengths, follows children's passions,” Yong Zhao, Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon?: Why China Has the Best (and Worst) Education System in the World.
Questions to Reflect:
What examples of dilemmas do you think could happen in a classroom because of individualism and collectivism?
What do you think a teacher should focus on?
Does the country you are from, prioritize individualism or collectivism?
As teachers I think we need to incorporate BOTH philosophies into our classrooms. Ultimately, we need to meet the needs of each individual student. If one of our students is struggling to understand a new concept, we need to find a way to reteach that child, while also meeting the needs of the group. Students definitely need individual goals, but they also must learn to work with and be part of a group. I think schools are a great place to practice both!
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