Intercultural competence

Assimilation is when immigrants accept the dominant culture of the host country and start to attempt to integrate into mainstream society both economically and socially. Ethnic pluralism is “sustained ethnic differences and continued heterogeneity” (Martin N Marger, Race and Ethnic Relations). Transnationalism is a reduction in the importance of boarders in terms of social or economic importance according to the lecture. There is a stark difference between assimilation and ethnic pluralism.…

Additionally, Johnson (2006) states that culture goes far beyond the climate, food, and clothing of a student’s native country. Culture can be difficult to understand and can present itself as a challenge for classroom teachers. Acquiring cultural competence is a gradual process (Johnson, 2006). Teachers have to be open and willing to interactions and experiences of students that are different from them. Johnson (2006) provided six differences that classroom teachers should become familiar…

Cultural Literacy Cultures are dynamic, ever growing and ever shrinking. Cultural literacy is not only the ability to understand and learn about other cultures, it also includes the awareness and maintenance of an individual’s own culture. Cultural literacy is crucial in regards to ones identity in the sense that culture is who we are. By knowing ourselves we can maintain our identity while also sharing it. Both authors had a calling to share their experiences for others to understand and…

After the past two modules, I have a newfound desire to teach my students in such a way that they feel their culture is accepted and celebrated, instead of forcing them to be a carbon copy of American culture. The immigrant students feel more comfortable and accepted when their culture is accepted, so shouldn’t we as future educators work to make it so that they feel the classroom is a safe environment where these students can express themselves? Ladson-Billings introduced a new pedagogy that…

The opening scene of Gran Torino introduced the conflicting relationship that the main character, Walt, had with his family members. This particular scene began in a church in which Walt’s wife’s funeral was being held. Walt watched as his grandchildren filed into the church to pay respect to their deceased grandmother. Contrary to displaying a comforting attitude toward his grandchildren, he stared at all of them in dismay as they each approached their seat inappropriately dressed for the…

Understanding Intercultural Communication Intercultural communication primarily focuses on how people from differing cultures, background, beliefs and/or communities communicate across different cultures When attempting to further understand communication across cultures, it is important to understand that cultural differences stem not only from different languages being spoken or individual origins being different of ones own birth country or region; cultural differences can appear from those…

Cultural inclusiveness and competency (“Talking about practice,” 2012, para.1) regarding immigrant students in Australian school environments, is a process often requiring wider community support and actions (QPASTT, 2014, p. 33). More than the extra efforts of staff, and budgeting are required of the school itself, particularly if the immigrants are refugees. A great deal of personal time and effort from school staff, working with the family of the student often in conjunction with community…

Assimilating oneself into a whole new culture, while still connecting to one’s rooted culture is not an easy task. Just like in the case of Gogol’s, cultures tend to clash creating it much harder for one to identify themselves. This causes feelings of isolation and loss of self-identity. Gogol’s quest in searching for his true individuality plays a vital role in his life. He is challenged in where he considers himself fitting in. He is pulled into the direction of two different cultures: Indian…

1.0.1 Hofstede’s Dimensions of National Cultures Culture is a complex concept. Without cultural patterns, people will find it tough to live with one another. Hofstede explains that culture is a collective mental programming of societies in an environment whereby it is not a characteristic of individuals. It also encompasses a number of people conditioned by similar education and life experience (Hofstede, 2011). Cultures cannot be removed from individuals and historical context, including…

Before this all thing of how to overcome cultural barriers to communication can be talked about, it is important to know or identify the barriers themselves. According to Joynt and Warner, culture diversity makes communication difficult as the mindset of people of different cultures are different, the language, signs and symbols are different. They said that different cultures have different meaning of words, behaviors and gestures. Culture also gives rise to prejudices, ethnocentrism, manners…