The Culture Wall: Seeing Each Other Differently

Entering Room 325 of the 8c class, you immediately see a colourful wall to your left. Students call it their “Culture Wall.” During their unit on California in English, the topics of bilingual and bicultural young people came up.

The class itself is multicultural, so it made sense to present everyone’s culture. Students said they think their teacher wanted them to get to know one another better too.

“I found it very interesting what others believe in and where they’re from. For example, I didn’t know that some out of my class have fled out of their hometown”, one German student said.

A Greek student added, “I also think my learning was increased because we had to do it in English and there were new words. I’d say, in general, this culture wall is a very good idea and great to read.”

Students could identify with the wall, because many have bicultural experiences themselves. They wanted to talk about their experiences. The project made them feel seen and heard.

“We just wanted to share and talk about our origins and cultures. We wanted to talk about us, our whole person in general. We could get to know each other much better,” a Polish student said.

They are proud of their families’ culture and get along just fine. After the wall went up, everyone gave one another positive feedback.

A student from Sri Lanka said that he learned much about his classmates. “They are all very nice and they are helpful, and all have great cultures.”

The students interviewed discussed their different experiences, but also what they wrote about in their texts. Some discussed food and clothing, some talked about their origins, holidays and languages. Even the way each student sees culture is different.

“I shared what kind of food we make and eat at home, which religion we have and what some clothes our cultures has”, said another student from Sri Lanka. She identifies with the more traditional elements of her culture.

But did the wall really change the classroom dynamic?

“We already spend so much time together, nearly every day, but also because we know each other so well already.” Now, they say, they revere their classmates as people as who are warm and supportive. In short, the “culture wall” built community.

Some teachers also gave positive feedback to the wall, showing interests in students’ texts. Their teacher said he now knows a more about his own students, expressing much positivity about and support for the wall.

All of the 8c thought the project was great. “It was a special project, and I would do it again.”