ABSTRACT
The module develops an understanding of the idea of a continuum of cultural competence. The continuum is relevant to individuals, agencies and to broader social institutions. As a practice teacher it is important to develop their own cultural competence. Cross and his colleagues at the Native American Child Welfare Association in Portland, Oregon use the word 'competence' 'because it implies having the capacity to function effectively'. The continuum can be used to assess the current competence of an agency or individual, as a prelude to progress to the next stage. It is a journey with staging posts and without end, because expectations of what is cultural proficiency are always changing. Male gender-specific language is very common, but there are more subtle ways in which language oppresses certain groups. Black youths on a bus may shout 'niggers' as a term of abuse to rival black youths on a street corner, but they are the authors of their own words.
