Download cross-cultural competency in educational psychology

CELEBRATING
DIVERSITY
Customs and Beliefs
Welcoming. Connecting. Belonging.
presented by
SASKATOON OPEN DOOR SOCIETY
CULTURAL BRIDGING PROGRAM
This program is supported by
Welcoming. Connecting. Belonging.
OUTLINE
Understanding Culture
Immigrants in Canada
Beyond The Surface
Intercultural Communication
Beliefs and Customs
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What is culture?
How do you define culture?
What is culture to you?
Where does culture come from?
Where do you learn culture?
Why does it matter?
What is its value?
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“refers to shared patterns of learned behaviors and values
that are transmitted over time, and that distinguish the
members of the one group from another. In this broad
sense culture can include: ethnicity, language, religion and
spiritual beliefs, gender, socio-economic class, age, sexual
orientation, geographic origin, group history, education,
upbringing and life experiences”
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The Canadian Nurse Association (2004)
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Exploring Perspectives
“What is required goes beyond mere tolerance
or sympathy or sensitivity – emotions which
can offer be willed into existence by a
generous soul.
True cultural sensitivity is something far more
rigorous and even more intellectual than that.
It implies readiness to study and learn across
cultural barriers, an ability to see others as
they see themselves.”
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H H Aga Khan
Diversity & Differences
We interpret what we see, but actual
meaning maybe different
Does not mean we need to change
our culture and adapt to another one
Sense of awareness that things may
be different for different people
Refrain from judging too quickly
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NEWCOMERS ARE FROM…
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IMMIGRATION CATEGORY
Visit
Work
Temporarily
SUPERVISAs
TOURIST
VISITORS VISA
TEMPORARY
FOREIGN
WORKERS:
Study
90,000 students
come to Canada
to study
Refugee
Refugee &
Humanitarian
Resettlement
ASYLUM
OPEN WORK
PERMIT &
RESTRICTED
WORK PERMIT
UNDERGRAD
POST-GRAD
TECHINICAL
ESL
Immigrate
SKILLED
PROFESSIONALS
CANADIAN
EXPERIENCE
CLASS
INVESTORS,
ENTREPRENEUR
S, SELF
EMPLOYED
PROVINCIAL
NOMINEE
PROGRAM
SPONSORING A
FAMILY
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Language
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Culture`s Link
with Communications
``Language carries culture, and culture carries, particularly through
orature and literature, the entire body of values by which we come to
perceive ourselves and our place in the world``
(Ngugi 1986, Intercultural Communication: page 15-16)
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Assumptions
• Everyone who looks or sounds
the same IS the same
• Everyone who looks or sounds
like us IS us
Cultural Competence Workshop for Service Providers in York Region, presented by Gloria
Murant and Douglas Stewart on April 28, 2003, Newmarket, ON
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Stereotypes and
its consequences
Stereotypes can lead to
views about others that
are typically:
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Rigid
Simplistic
Overgeneralized
negative or
unfavourable
Something to think about
“In any intercultural encounter, there is
always a temptation to feel that the
others have bad character or bad
intentions, rather than to realize that
they are acting according to different
rules.”
(Hofstede, Pedersen & Hofstede)
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Intercultural Communication
Intercultural
communication
increases our
understanding about
other cultures and it is
an effective way to
make our world a better
place
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Cultural Patterns
Conceptual categories are useful for understanding cultural
differences:
High context vs Low context
Individualism vs Collectivism
Power Distance
Uncertainty Avoidance
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High Context vs Low Context
• Covert and Implicit
• Overt and explicit
• Messages internalised
• Messages plainly coded
• Much non-verbal coding
• Details verbalised
• Reactions reserved
• Reactions on the surface
• Distinct ingroups and
• Flexible ingroups and
outgroups
outgroups
• Strong Interpersonal bonds
• Fragile Interpersonal bonds
• Commitment high
• Commitment low
• Time open and flexible
• Time highly organised
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High Context vs Low Context
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Variables in
Intercultural Communications
Time
• Monochrome
• Polychrome
Sense of self and • Informal
• Formal
space
Roles and Status
• Men vs Women
• Titles
Decision Making • Quick decisions, little details
• Very detailed – trust first
Customs
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Variables in
Intercultural Communications
Continued…
Social Values
Legal and Ethical
Behaviors
Masculine vs.
Feminine
Achievements
• Material wealth
• Efficiency
• Politeness
• Bribes
• Custom
• Achievement, wealth, assertiveness
• Relationship, quality of life
• Individual
• Group
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Intercultural
Communication
Slow Down (Tone, Volume, Speed)
Separate Questions
Avoid Negative Questions
Take Turns
Be Supportive
Check Meanings
Avoid Slangs
Naming Systems
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Cultural Beliefs and
Superstitions in Housing
Common Chinese Beliefs and Superstitions:
1. Numbers 4 and 8
2. Arched or T-shaped roads
3. Front Door should not open directly opposite
the back door
4. Staircase should not lead straight out the front
door.
5. Entrance to the home should be on the left side
of the house with a curved path and no
obstructions.
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Cultural Beliefs and
Superstitions in Housing
Common Beliefs and Superstitions in India
Indians typically follow Vastu shastra when building a home.
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Cultural Beliefs and
Superstitions in Housing
Things To Keep In Mind When Constructing A House:
The very first brick of a foundation must be laid in the eastern or northern part of the house.
When digging the plot one must never start from the west, south or southwest direction.
The very first room has to be constructed at southwest side.
Construction of houses on a square or rectangular plot is extremely important and excellent
from every aspect. However, if one opts for a rectangular shape, the proportion of the sides
must never be more than two ratio one.
Bigger sized plots are more favorable, as they tend to bring wealth. But they must not contain
cleavages, or cracks.
The house must always be open from every side, this means it must never be contiguous to
any other building (two houses must never have a common wall). Also, a house must never
be crammed between two houses.
Plots with triangular shapes are extremely inauspicious.
A small plot sandwiched between two bigger plots is inauspicious, and the owner of such a
plot can undergo a lot of problem.
http://www.vaastushaastra.com/vastuforhousestructure.html
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Cultural Beliefs and
Superstitions in Housing
Housing Superstitions in the Philippines
1. A sunken living room brings bad luck and sickness to
the house.
2. Doors that face west will bring quarrels, disease and
death in the family.
3. It is imperative that a house faces east where the sun
rises to guarantee prosperity.
4. Doors should always be on the right side of the house
and the stairs should always turn to the right.
5. Doors should not be built facing each other.
6. Numbers 7, 11 and 13.
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Cultural Beliefs and
Superstitions in Housing
Other Cultural Beliefs and Superstitions
Lighting:
In many Eastern cultures, it is important to have
a chandelier or suspended light in the living
room of the home to represent the sun.
Bathrooms:
In many cultures, having a powder room off the
kitchen or living room is considered offensive.
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Walk in the
other person’s shoes
“Hospitality is the art of making people feel
special always” Francis Brenna, Hotelier
• Integrity & Relationship
• Little things make a difference
• Educating the client during the process
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OUR DIFFERENCES MAKE US
UNIQUE
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REFERENCES
Brick, J 1991, China: A Handbook in Intercultural Communication, National Center for English language Teaching and Research, Macquarie University, Sydney.
Chaney, L H & Martin, J S 2003, Intercultural Business Communication, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Cutler, J 2005, The Cross-Cutural Trainer’s Manual – Volume 2: Activities for Cross-Cultural Training, Gower Publishing Ltd, Aldershot, UK.
Elder, B 1994, Communication Skills, Macmillan Education Australia, South Yarra.
Guirdham, M 2005, Communicating Across Cultures at Work, Palgrave Macmillan Ltd, Basingstoke, UK.
Hermans, J & Pusch, M D 2004, ‘Culture Matters’, European Association for International Education (EAIE) Occasional Paper 16.
Jandt, F E 2001, Intercultural Communication: An Introduction, Sage Publications, California.
Jandt, F E 2007, (5th ed.) Intercultural Communication: An Introduction, Sage Publications, California.
Lustig, M W & Koester, J 2006, Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures, Pearson Education Inc., Boston.
Martin, J N & Nakayama, T K 2001, Experiencing Intercultural Communication: An Introduction, Mayfield Publishing Company, Mountain View, California.
Mohan, T, McGregor, H, Saunders, S & Archee, R 2004, Communicating as Professionals, Nelson Australia Pty Ltd.
Neuliep, J W 2006, Intercultural communication: A contextual approach, Sage Publications, California.
Peterson, B 2004, Cultural Intelligence: A Guide to Working with People from Other Countries, Intercultural Press, Yarmouth, Maine.
Reynolds, S & Valentine, D 2004, Guide to cross-cultural communication, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J.
Sabath, A M 1999, International Business Etiquette: Asia & The Pacific Rim, Career Press, New Jersey.
Spencer-Oatey, H 2006, Introduction: What is Culture?, viewed 9 March 2007, < http://209.15.42.137/ic.org.uk/publications/culture.pdf>.
Taylor, O L 1987, Cross-Cultural Communication: An Essential Dimension of Effective Education, viewed 9 March 2007, <http://www.maec.org/cross/3.html>.
Tuleja, E A 2005, Intercultural Communication for Business, Managerial Communication Series, J S O’Rourke (ed), Thomson South-Western.
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Thank you for your time!
This presentation is supported by
Welcoming. Connecting. Belonging.