Culture: Learning from Who We Are

WHAT IS CULTURE?

DEFINITION OF CULTURE

“Culture: learned and shared human patterns or models for living; day- to-day living patterns. these patterns and models pervade all aspects of human social interaction. Culture is mankind's primary adaptive mechanism.” (Damen, 1987, p. 367)

“Culture is the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of people for perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities around them.” (Lederach, 1995, p. 9)

CULTURE IS …

Shared patterns of information are both explicit and implicit

Subjective Dimensions (Beliefs, Attitudes, Values) Interactive Dimensions (Verbal and Nonverbal Language)

Material Dimensions (Relevant Objects, Artifacts) Both cognitive (intellectual) and emotional Facilitates cohesion and communication Affects identity, sense of belonging, and the self-esteem of individuals within the group

WAYS TO CATEGORIZE CULTURES

AuthorityHow do cultural groups define and perceive authority?

RelationshipsHow do cultural groups define and perceive human relations?

ActivityHow do cultural groups define and perceive activity?

TimeHow do cultural groups define and perceive time?

WAYS TO CATEGORIZE CULTURES

Egalitarian

Informal

Hierarchical

Formal

Authority

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IndependenceCompetition

IndividualismLow context

InterdependenceCooperationCollectivismHigh Context

Relationships

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WAYS TO CATEGORIZE CULTURES

Doing Being

Activity

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Limited Abundant

Time

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WAYS TO CATEGORIZE CULTURES

Let’s categorize and discuss our cultures according to authority, relationships, activities, and time. Then, we can understand our own cultures and start to understand others’ cultures.

HOW CAN WE SEE CULTURE?

Ritual: Certain ways of doing things that teach lesson about life, behavior, etc.

Symbols: Physical objects that have more meaning than their usual purpose.

These meanings usually teach about life and values that are important to the culture that utilizes the symbols.

HOW CAN WE SEE CULTURE?

Language: How do we refer to different people in our lives?

What does language say about cultural values? What do different communications mean?

Social Stratification: How do you know who is in which group in society? How is society organized?

HOW CAN WE SEE CULTURE?

Let’s discuss our culture according to ritual, symbols, language, and Social Stratification. Then, we can understand our own cultures and start to understand others’ cultures.

HOW CAN WE UNDERSTAND OTHER CULTURES?

WHAT IS THIS?

WHAT IS THIS?

FIRST PRINCIPLE

Empathy Putting yourself in another person’s shoes. Won’t completely understand what another person is

going through. Trying to understand what a person is feeling, their

perspective, experiences NOT sympathy, which is simply feeling bad for a person

SECOND PRINCIPLE

Suspending Judgment Tentatively withholding judgment about other people’s

actions and beliefs Understanding and empathizing why people do and

believe the things they do Awareness that our judgments of “good,”

“appropriate,” “useful,” etc. are culturally determined Still have your own beliefs, but need to be open to

trying to understand other people’s perspectives

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

“Cultural diversity is an important concept to grasp during childhood. Understanding that people are not all the same will enable children to embrace and value the things that make each person or group of people different. Children notice differences, and taking time to teach what is important to each culture can help foster acceptance and understanding.” (Johnson, 2008)

FUN ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN

Learning Peace in different language http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhXDGXSlzb8

FUN ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN

Learn Cultural Etiquette Example: In China and Taiwan, burping is considered a compliment to the chef and a sign that you have eaten well and enjoyed your meal.Left hand is considered unclean in India, so pass all food or objects to other people with your right.

FUN ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN

Celebrate Holidays Keep a calendar of upcoming holidays celebrated in other countries. Celebrate national holidays just as people in that country do.

Example: Lunar Calendar New Year; Korean Thanksgiving, Hanukah

EMBRACING OTHER CULTURES IS BLESSING!

REFERENCES

Damen, L. (1987). Culture learning: The fifth dimension on the language classroom. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Johnson, R. G. (2008). A twenty-first century approach to teaching social justice: Educating for both advocacy and action. New York, NY: Peter Lang Publishing

Lederach, J.P. (1995). Preparing for peace: Conflict transformation across cultures. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press.