Cultural awareness - learner
| Site: | Digital Community and Innovation in Adult Education and Basic Skills |
| Course: | Key Competences at Work: Trainer's book and Learner's book |
| Book: | Cultural awareness - learner |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Sunday, 28 April 2024, 11:17 PM |
1. Cultural awareness
Introduction
Being culturally aware implies an ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in intercultural situations based on one’s intercultural knowledge, skills and attitudes. In other words, it includes knowledge of others, knowledge of self, skills to interpret and relate to otherness and diversity, skills to discover and/or to interact, value others’ values, beliefs and behaviors and last but not least to relativize one’s self.
Start with self-assessment of your cultural awareness and cultural understanding in general to have an overview of possible challenges.
1.1. Communication with non-native colleagues
One is expected to be aware of differences in language use in a multicultural setting, as a growing number of employees operate in a language that is not their mother tongue/ first language.
Based on your experiences with meeting people in your profession who do not share their first language with you, assess your knowledge related to following issues. Answer with mark (X) on YES or NO.
Non-native speakers’ issues | YES | NO |
Many of my colleagues speak several languages. |
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I know the names of many national languages. |
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Everyone is fond of learning a second language. |
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Some people learn languages faster than others do. |
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I always adjust the way I speak or write to non-native speakers. |
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Non-native speakers always intend to imitate native speakers. |
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It is important to help non-native speakers by constantly correcting their errors and/or miscues. |
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There are many ways of saying the same thing. |
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Non-native speakers can help me learn what it feels like to move between cultures and language varieties and become citizens of the global community. |
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1.2. Multicultural nonverbal language
Every communication has its both verbal and non-verbal features. The non-verbal communication includes one’s body language and behaviour that reflects personal, but also cultural traits and values. Try to reflect on the following, and put a mark (X) on YES or NO.
Body language and people’s behaviour across national cultures | YES | NO |
Different national cultures prescribe different ways of greeting people. |
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I know how some other cultures than my own use eye contact in interpersonal communication. |
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There is one, universal way of showing respect for other people through body language. |
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My colleagues know exactly what kind of behaviour is specific in my own culture. |
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I know how my own culture is perceived by others and it is correct. |
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Many persons perceive my culture, norms and traditions in a way that is not true/correct. |
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I have noticed that in certain cultures women and men are being greeted differently by the opposite gender. |
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I know of at least five different national cultures where people behave in a special way. |
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The way I analyse and judge other cultural norms is always right. |
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1.3. Tolerance to diversity and multiculturalism
Human beings have become citizens of the world and have to face very complex changes towards an open and plural world, founded on knowledge of and respect for others. To construct the world of tomorrow, in which different identities are capable of sharing the same destiny, we need to broaden our knowledge and constantly re-shape the ways of thinking and reasoning.
To what degree are you ready to question or change your own beliefs? How do you react to different walks of life you happen to meet – religions, races, genders? Asses your current competences by filling in the table:
- you can print the page
- if you are member of the group (registered with an email), you can prepare your self-assessment with this interactive activity
Tolerance to diversity and multiculturalism | TRUE | FALSE |
I gain knowledge on foreign cultures mostly through books and media.
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I learn about other cultures and customs through experience.
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There are many different ways of seeing the world, the right and/or wrong.
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The way I think is influenced and shaped by my native culture.
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In order to be tolerant it is enough to know a lot about other cultures.
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How to accept other people and different national cultures has to be learned at home and in schools.
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When I meet different modes of thinking or behaving among people, I always attempt to understand why it is as it is.
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It is normal to drive on the right side of the road.
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I am able to see both differences and similarities between women and men.
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There are “good” and “bad” cultures.
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Other people see me rather as a part of my own culture and religion than my profession.
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Knowing where people come from (geographically) tells me everything about them.
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Some cultures and religions are preferred to some others.
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I am willing to question my own standpoints and beliefs about other cultures.
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The way I see certain customs and traditions today, may change in future.
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Everything I believe is right and proper, has been inherited from my schooling and family background.
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Some cultures accept same sex- marriages because they are extremely tolerant.
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Some cultures accept same sex- marriages because they have learned that we all have different preferences and that homosexuals had previously suffered unfair oppression.
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It is difficult to have an opinion on something you do not know much about.
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If someone is a citizen of the world, it means they do not belong to any national culture in particular.
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