Problems and Their Solutions in a Multicultural Environment According to Pre-service Social Studies Teachers

Abstract

Multiculturalism that is a natural consequence of the phenomenon of globalization is a reality that nations cannot ignore nowadays. The social studies course is of special importance at the point of multicultural education. Therefore, there is a need to educate teachers who will teach this lesson consciously and sensitively. This study was conducted to describe problems in a multicultural environment and solution proposals to them based on the discourses of pre-service social studies teachers. The phenomenological approach among qualitative research methods was used in the study. A semi-structured interview form was applied to 110 pre-service social studies teachers. As a result of the coding performed by taking expert opinions, it was determined that the vast majority of the pre-service teachers attributed meanings such as multinational population, the diversity of cultural values, and different races, languages, religions and ethnic structures to multiculturalism. At the point of problems in a multicultural environment, it was observed that they emphasized conflict, social differentiation and division, assimilation, constraints, difficulty of communication and cultural erosion.  In the solution of these problems, they suggested regarding differences as wealth and providing education that contains multicultural values.