Photovoice- The Holy book

PHOTOVOICE:

Good morning everyone! Today, we are going to talk about a project that we did in Culture of english, one of our subjects of 3rd of Teaching. The photovoice is a very interesting project because it talks about culture and the different ways to approach it, in a bad and good way. What we did was to choose different topics related to culture and some photos about it. Later, we wrote some good and bad commandments to comply. I hope you enjoy it!

Firstly we talked about culture, with a low “c”, that is a set of characteristics that one city or country has that distinguish it from others. The culture is learned by the individual through socialization, a process of assimilation that takes place throughout life. It is something that we have to know to be involved in a social group.

As a consequence, education is the principal process of socialization that we develop during our life. But in this process there are some problems when different cultures are joined.

Nowadays in most of the schools there are a lot of signs of cultural oppression, and they are exposed in different ways: cultural, socio-economic, race, ethnic, gender (women/man), linguistic (in english language teaching)...  

When the behaviour of the children is different from what is established, they are treated as if they have a problem or an issue. Pathologies, problems or issues are associated to children's’ culture and origins. But in fact they could have another kind of problem, so it is a prejudice (only because a kid is black they can think that he has a problem instead of think that he could have family difficulties, for example). It is a stereotype. Furthermore, curriculum focuses on what middles class already been developing in academic skills like read or write, and not on the low-class students skills like solve problems or tie their laces. There are racial labels and there is a real oppression: the education is centrated in “basic skills” (read, write, pass the exams…), that correspond to middle-class students. And “Higher-order thinking skills” like solve problems, critical thoughts, operate practically… correspond to low-class students. And both of them should have the same importance. For the same reason, learning English belongs to middle-class students. Low-class students do not have interest in english and nobody around them take care of it.

So that, children have culture oppression but teachers do not take it like this, but as students’ pathologization. Due to that, we have to create a professional culture; a culture education of solution. So what can we do? well, doing importance to english for these children too. We should open our eyes to another cultures with a critical pedagogy. It is sensible to cultural problems. Is an education that aware problems. The way you teach must be emancipatory and not oppressive for children. We have many ways to teach through: critical multiliteracies, multiculturalism, multimodality, multilingualism/ translingualism.

As a teachers, we have a lot of activities to the different ways of emancipatory teaching to create a friendly and respectful environment for everybody. The base of that is teaching through “scaffolding” (linguistic side values reflective education): a way to teaching through modalities, creating a rich context through different ways: images, games, reality, songs…

One example is using pictures to spark discussions with the aim of pick up on children’s stereotypes. Also, the use of Audiovisual Identity texts that allow both kids and teachers to express who they are and what they want to be. Other example is take the students around their city and take photos of it, to see their creative side in relation to the cultures. As well, we have to teach children through the experience and creativity.

For instance, our workgroup of a “Photovoice on culture”, is a clear activity that demonstrates free oppression of cultures respecting to the English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Due to we have made so that all students can understand all the information that is in it. In addition, our Photovoice is composed of pictures made by us, which each of the students can interpret on the way that they would like. Also, we have put commandments that say what, for us, is right or wrong, respecting to the different cultures that could appear, without prejudices or stereotypes.

This activity is a very good example that children can do to see the different thoughts and points of view that people could have, at different way of each. Also, they could learn a lot of distinct things that would not learned with an academic book or doing an exam.

Doing this work, I have learned many ways to make people see that it is possible to teach without a theoretical method and making the integrity of cultures as an obvious and necessary subject that it is totally possible.

So here is our Holy Book:

1. LANGUAGE

Language is a system that allows the exchange of information and the communication
between several interlocutors. This communication can be oral or written, but we can also
communicate through non-verbal expression. Language is constantly exposed to change due
to how society evolves. Moreover, each culture has its own language and this can be
considered as a sign of distinction between cultures or on the contrary, it can be something
that enriches all of them. Each culture gives the language different touches in relation to its
beliefs, traditions and habits.

• Scoundrel, don’t  you know there are millions of kids watching how ridiculous you are?
• hahaha this woman is useless, another Esteban
• Pretty mama
• You are such a shame, I wish you had gotten pneumonia and died from it. You think you are a goddess and you are a dwarf. It is a pity that you have not fallen from the balcony . Show your body to your husband and have a bit of privacy . You are not a true woman, you are a loose woman

You shall use language to communicate with people.

You shall use language to create bonds.

You shall use language to express feelings, thoughts, beliefs

You shall use language to enrich other people’s lives

You shall use language to exchange information

You shall mind your words

You shall appreciate other languages different from yours

You shall use language to unite cultures

You shall use language to express yourself

You shall not ignore the power of language

You shall not use language to separate a group

You shall not use language to hurt people
You shall not use language as a weapon

You shall not use your own language to discriminate others

You shall not use your knowledge of language against others

You shall not use language to be disrespectful.

You shall not be afraid of speaking new languages

You shall not judge people because of their language

2. TRADITIONS

Traditions are the cultural manifestations that have been the result of the transmission and
sharing of costumes. Some of them come from the ancestors; new ones appear as the time
goes by. Generation after generation, they can evolve as the society progresses, or on the
contrary, they can stay still for a long time. Many traditions are closely related to religion,
but others have a popular origin, such as the way of dressing, food, folklore or dances.

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You shall respect the traditions which your past generations built
You shall be careful with what you turn into a tradition

You shall be critic about traditions

You shall be an example to future generations with the traditions you create

You shall reflect on whether traditions are appropriate or not

You shall adapt traditions to changes in society

You shall know the background of traditions before judging them

You shall use traditions to try to understand ways of living

You shall handle foreign traditions in a sensitive way

You shall not be unrespectful with other cultures’ traditions
You shall not adopt new traditions that could disgrace your culture and society

You shall not use traditions to divide society

You shall not dishonor the traditions that enrich your culture

You shall not only doubt about the old traditions, but also about the modern ones.

You shall not be ashamed of your traditions.

You shall not build traditions which are against the environment.

3. RELIGION
Group of beliefs that define the way of thinking and acting. It’s based on something that only
can be achieved through faith. Each culture usually has its own religion. It also helps people to
be part of a community and gives them peace of mind. Religion can be a resource for
distinction and provide some easy solutions for complex events and problems in own world.

You shall respect the beliefs of others

You shall promote the freedom of faith

You should appreciate diversity of beliefs

You shall be able to choose which religious celebrations you want to share

You should respect that some people use religion as a resource of peace of mind.

You shall understand that religions are different and similar at the same time

You shall know that all religions are at the same level

You shall not lose the faith in what you believe

You shall not judge people who do not have the same beliefs as you

You shall not impose your religion or beliefs to others

You shall not think that you have the universal truth

You shall not discriminate because of religious thoughts

You shall not be ashamed of what you believe in

5. IDENTITY
Identity is a group of roles that creates a picture of ourselves. It’s about how we and the
others see us. The set of features that form our own identity characterizes us in opposite
to others, as a group or as an individual. These traits can be modified, intentionally or not,
through the experiences we have throughout our lives. Although many of the traits that form
the identity are hereditary, the environment has a great influence on this conformation.

One individual has the opportunity to choose between different roles to fit in different situations, but at the same time all the roles has to be combined in the same person as a concept of ourselves. The picture of roles is changing his colours constantly. Also the colours are different for the painter and for those who have a look at it.

You shall protect your identity and roots

You shall embrace those things that define you and your culture

You shall love yourself just the way you are

You shall be who you feel you are

You shall work on the building of your identity

You shall define your identity throughout your life

You shall foster unity in diversity

You shall understand society as a structure builded with small pieces

You shall not be influenced by other people's opinion

You shall not discriminate who is different from you

You shall not be judgmental with others

You shall not let anyone tell you how and who you have to be

You shall not stick to stereotypes

You shall not be ashamed of who you are

4. EDUCATION
Area of the society that allows the cognitive and personal development and the formation of
critical and independent individuals. The structure and content of the educational system can
shows witch skills and requirements seems to be important for a specific society. Education
is influenced by different institutions like families or the economic and political system. They
all have their specific requirements to individuals and their education.   

You shall fight for equal opportunities
You shall make education an accessible right for any social class
You shall make education a key that opens the doors of the future
You shall enhance the educational system so it forms critical, free and emancipated citizens
You shall promote an education adapted to the needs of students

You shall provide knowledge to those who are willing to acquire it

You shall create a curriculum that provides quality education

You shall let the students be creative

You shall not benefit only one part of the society through education

You shall not transform education into a business

You shall not develop standardized students

You shall not impose your knowledge to others

You shall not build an rigid educational system

You shall not reproduce social inequalities throughout education