TALKING CULTURES: An Introduction to Intercultural Awareness Competencies

WORKSHOP

Workshop Overview

• Introductions• Aims and Objectives • Themes of workshop : what is culture?; cultural identity; differences

between cultures; why is culture important?; ethnocentrism • Reflection and Feedback

What is culture?

• “Culture or Civilization, taken in its widest ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society” Tylor 1968 [1871]

What is culture?

“People become aware of their culture when they stand at its boundaries: when they encounter other cultures, or when they become aware of other ways of doing things, or merely of contradictions to their own culture”

Cohen, Anthony P. (1985)

What is culture?

• “Culture is defined as a system of shared values and beliefs which gives us a sense of belonging or identity. Culture can be discussed in terms of ways in which people pertaining to a group, society or organisation behave, communicate and think, and perceive reality. Each culture exhibits people’s perceptions of reality”. (Weaver, 2000)

Discussion Point 1

In small groups, discuss and make notes on the following questions below:

• What does cultural identity mean to you?

• What elements contribute to a person’s cultural identity?

• How would you identify your culture? (revisit definitions)

Discussion Point 2Fundamental differences between

cultures

In small groups/pairs discuss the similarities and differences between your cultures with regard to:

• Dress• Gender roles• Social activities• Meeting and Greeting• Gestures• Dining Etiquette• Food• Language

Why is culture important?• Culture has certain characteristics – learned,

transmitted through generations, symbolic and changeable over time.

• Culture is Ethnocentric; and has both visible and invisible attributes

• Cultural Perspectives: Emic vs etic• Need to be culturally aware in order to be able to

interpret someone’s behaviour relative to its cultural context.

Ethnocentrism

• What is Ethnocentrism?• Discussion point 1 – your experience of

ethnocentrism• Why is one cultural group better or worse

than any other? Discussion point 2: Video input followed by discussions

• Knowledge about your own culture• Discussion point 3

What is ethnocentrism?• Ethnocentrism is judging another culture solely by the values

and standards of one's own culture. This is particularly

concerned with language, behaviour, customs, and religion.

• These ethnic distinctions and subdivisions serve to define

each ethnicity's unique cultural identity.

• The term ethnocentrism was created by William G. Sumner,

when observing the tendency for people to differentiate

between the ‘ingroup’ and others. He described it as often

leading to pride, vanity, beliefs of one's own group's

superiority, and contempt of outsiders (wikipedia.org).

Discussion Point 3

In small groups, discuss and make notes on the following questions below:

• Can you recall a time when you have been ethnocentric to someone else?

• Has anyone ever made you uncomfortable or offended because of ethnocentrism?

• How can we avoid getting caught up in ethnocentrism?

Discussion Point 4:Why is one cultural group better or worse than any other?

Watch the following video clip and in a small groups discuss the questions below:

A.

You Tube (2008)

1. Did you identify any signs of ethnocentrism in the following videos?

2. What potential issues did you identify in the videos?

3. A way of avoiding ethnocentrism is to have a good understanding of different

cultures. Do you think we have the right to understand the culture of the

Amazonian tribe in the video?

Discussion Point 5:Continued

Watch the following video clip and in a small groups discuss the questions below:

B.

You Tube (2010)

1. Did you identify any signs of ethnocentrism in the following videos?

2. What potential issues did you identify in the videos?

3. The Papua New Guinean tribe in the video seem to know a lot about our

culture, is it not fair that we should know more about their culture?

Discussion Point 6continued:

Watch the second video clip and discuss the questions below:

C.

You Tube (2009)

1. Did you identify any signs of ethnocentrism in the following videos?

2. What potential issues did you identify in the videos?

3. How may these issues be avoided?

References

Hofstede, Geert (1980) Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. Beverly Hills CA: Sage Publications.

Hofstede, Geert (2001) Culture’s Consequences, (Second Edition): Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage Publications.

Tylor, Edward B. 1968 [1871] The Science of Culture. In Morton Fried, ed., Readings in Anthropology, vol. II: Cultural Anthropology. New York: Crowell

Weaver, G., R. (Ed.). (2000). Culture, communication and conflicts: Readings in intercultural relations (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson publishing.

References

You Tube (2008) Untouched Amazonian Tribe Caught On Camera Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16fvTonR_gA&feature=related [Accessed on 17th July 2012)

You Tube (2009) Cultural Differences National Geographic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0kzF4A-WQ&feature=related[Accessed on 17th July 2012)

You Tube (2010) Trouble for the tribe hunters - First Contact – BBC. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0glz_gLQgE&feature=relmfu [Accessed on 17th July 2012)

Wikipedia.org (2012) Ethnocentrism. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnocentrism [Accessed 13th July, 2012]

Reflection

• What have you learnt today?• Do you feel more confident interacting with

other cultures?• How do you think you will apply this in

your next seminar, or in your on/off campus accommodation?