Overview

Research has shown that the teacher s interpersonal style is an important factor in the learning environment. Both students cognitive and affective learning outcomes are related to their teachers interpersonal style. In The Netherlands, as in many countries, classrooms have become more and more culturally diverse. Perceptions of the interpersonal aspect of behaviour are influenced by the cultural background of the persons involved in communication processes. This implies that teacher education institutes have to prepare their students for communicating with students from various cultural backgrounds. A project was started with the goal of preparing student teachers for the multicultural classroom. A website was used to provide student teachers with both practical and theoretical information on communication processes in multicultural classrooms in The Netherlands. To gather this information, the literature was reviewed, teachers and pupils were interviewed and classrooms videotaped. Workshops were organised in which student teachers and the teachers in schools used the electronic learning environment Blackboard for discussion. Student teachers and teachers also met face-to-face.

1. Introduction

According to the...