Exploring cultural identity

To help set up a safe and supportive classroom environment, we recommend you access the following:

• Creating a supportive learning environment

Tell students that they will be watching a video in which three young people talk about their experiences of learning to navigate their cultural identity. The video features Michael, a Chinese-Singaporean Australian; Monica, a South-Sudanese Australian; and Krushnadevsinh, an Indian Australian.

1. Play the ReachOut.com video clip Learning to navigate your cultural identity.

2. In pairs or small groups, have students discuss the following questions:

   • How would you describe your cultural identity? What does it mean to you?

   • How might this compare with what the young people in the video say they feel about their cultural identity?

   • How does having a sense of community within their cultural group positively shape these young people’s identities? (For example, giving them a sense of belonging, making them feel more connected, helping them to overcome insecurities …)

3. If students feel comfortable, have them share their responses with the class.

Debrief: Engaging with the diversity of other people in our community can provide knowledge, opportunities and experiences we wouldn’t normally have access to. To learn more, you could suggest that students reach out to other students at school from different cultural backgrounds to explore their similarities and differences, and to share the knowledge and practices they value as part of their own culture.

For more information, direct student to:

• More personal stories about cultural identity

• Support services for culturally and linguistically diverse young people.