From 22nd to 29th March 2026 two Portuguese teachers and one Spanish teacher joined the JUMP Academy Professional Training to particpate in a three-day training course combining the session of “Communication in the new multicultural society. Understanding how language works to improve our communication and relationships with others” and the one of “Teaching in a Global Cultural Class: the CRT Approach”. The training course resulted in an enriching intercultural experience, reinforcing communication skills, raising awareness of cultural diversity, and introducing practical tools to create more inclusive and equitable multicultural classrooms and schools.
On the first day, we opened a debate about the challenges and rewards of working in multicultural classes, identifying key aspects such as language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and different educational backgrounds. At the same time, we highlighted the benefits, including the opportunity to foster intercultural dialogue, promote empathy, and enrich the learning environment through diverse perspectives. Therefore, participants were introduced to a theoretical framework useful to know their own cultural identity and gain a better understanding of culture.
The second day was focused on raising our socio-cultural awareness, reflecting on how stereotypes, biases, and prejudices are often unconscious and can unintentionally influence our perceptions, attitudes, and interactions in the classroom. Through a range of non-formal activities and practical exercises, participants had the opportunity to explore their own assumptions and develop greater self-awareness. Then, particular attention was given to cross-cultural communication, introducing analytical cultural tools that helped us understand how certain behaviours are influenced by cultural backgrounds.
The afternoon was dedicated to outdoor non-formal education, a useful approach in multicultural classrooms since it fosters collaboration, active participation, and experiential learning while promoting inclusion, breaking down cultural barriers, and encouraging meaningful interaction among learners from diverse backgrounds. The teachers had the opportunity to take part with other participants in nature based activities and in the official UN board game “Go-goals”, experiencing first-hand intercultural communication and cooperation.
On the third day, the training course introduced the Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) approach as an effective strategy to bridge the cultural gap between schools and students with a different cultural background. Emphasis was placed on raising socio-cultural awareness, strengthening intercultural communication skills, promoting student-centred learning, and adopting a constructivist approach to teaching.
All these elements contribute to creating more inclusive multicultural classrooms, where students are encouraged to value and use their cultural backgrounds as a resource for learning.
Author: Giusy Froio (JUMP team)
