Name: Jette Lykke Møhl
Age Group: 4th to 10th grade
Title and competence area:
• Learning and teaching communicative competence
• Kompetenceområde 3: Interkulturel competence I sprogundervisning
Introduction and background:
During my years as a 10th-grade teacher, I have learned that even though my students have been taught English from 3rd grade, they often don’t know very much about other English-speaking countries. Perhaps they have a slight knowledge about holiday traditions such as Christmas and Halloween, but knowledge about people’s daily life and culture, in general, is not a usual competence. That’s why every year I try hard to find the best way to teach about the culture of specific English-speaking countries. Recently
Focus question:
How can I help my students acquire intercultural communicative competence by comparing selected aspects of daily life in English-speaking countries and Denmark?
Theory:
While intercultural competence has become a highly prioritised aim to teach in primary schools in Denmark these days it is, of course, significant to know the different aspects of cultural understanding. Michael Byram discusses intercultural competence (2000) as well as Karen Risager in her article Cultural understanding in language teaching (1994). The fact that English has an influence on most people’s lives and because globalisation makes it important that people are able to communicate cross-cultural give the English teachers in Danish school's responsibility to do their best to mediate between the students’ own culture and English speaking cultures. To teach cultural understanding is a subject most teachers have taught for many years, but as Byram (2000) argues it has mostly been teaching knowledge and facts about certain countries and things which are easy to test and examine. Intercultural competence and understanding have a wider
That’s why some teachers find it challenging to teach this subject. After all, It is easy to teach the obvious things like knowledge about food, traditions, history etc., but what is harder to teach are skills to interpret why people behave like they do, and in addition to that inspire students to have the attitudes and interest acquired to understand other people's perspectives in lives. I also find it challenging, but I need to find a way myself to understand and interpret the term of intercultural competence required to be the mediator in terms to build bridges to other cultures in the class. To understand what Byram discusses in his theory I think that the Iceberg Theory is useful in understanding intercultural competence. While reading about this subject I came across Edward T. Hall’s Cultural Iceberg (1976) which places all the visible aspects of culture on the top of the iceberg and all the hidden aspects beneath the water. The top of the iceberg appears to be what we see physically and often the first things we learn about other countries, e.g. when we travel such as food, nature, clothes, architecture, language, etc. Underneath the
“In addition to giving special attention to the history and current situation of their own nation, [children should] learn a good deal more than they frequently do about the rest of the world in which they live” (6). In this method of education, students will be creating bonds with characteristics of cultures that they personally find good and worthy of upholding. Rather than upholding traditions of their own nation without the respect they where originally meant to give. In this way, you would find differences in other nations cultures and not see them as flaws, but as unique features you can appreciate and strive to
Family’s beliefs and values may be different for some and in other cultures they may not be accepted. As teachers, we have to learn about different cultures and expand our knowledge so families could feel more accepted. In the book, Anti- Bias Education for young children and ourselves by Louise Derman-Sparks & Julie Olsen Edwards, talks about how culture and fairness involves two dimensions, children’s development of a positive culture, identity, and their respectful interactions with other cultures. With these two dimensions, it will help the child to continue to express their home culture at school while learning the different cultures at school with their classmates. They learn about what’s right from wrong, how to dress, and talk
Influencing culture creates tranquility in a work environment that helps employees feel accepted and happier, thus creating better customer services. In the scholarly article, “Relationship Of Organizational Culture, Teamwork And Job Satisfaction In Interprofessional Teams", Korner argues that before you can have happy customers you must have happy employees. “Organizational characteristics, such as organizational culture, are important aspects for interprofessional teamwork, treatment quality and success . Studies have demonstrated that interprofessional teamwork is influenced by organizational culture.” (2). Culture is an important aspect for teamwork because employees must learn each other’s difference to better connect with them. Connecting with co-worker creates a positive environment and reflects on the employee. When customers see the smiling face of an employee, who enjoy his job the positivity reflects on the customer’s overall experience. Influencing employee’s culture helps the customer’s and employee’s experience.
Moreover, culturally responsive teaching practice demonstrates a clear feature since it contains guidelines that have a connection to different styles of teaching. It uses strategies that fit and matches with the teaching style that the teacher uses. Indeed, culturally responsive teaching practice is crucial because it plays a vital role in appreciating their culture and the cultural heritage of others. Besides, it includes resources, materials in all subjects, multicultural information disseminated in schools. Therefore, culturally responsive teaching practices consider the cultural customs of every student, thus it ensures that the content is worthy and fits in all cultures of the students. It is crucial to note that culturally responsive teaching practices involves considering the environment of the classroom. Activities would
Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2011). Experiencing Intercultural Communication: an Introduction (4. ed.). London: McGraw-Hill Education - Europe.
The Interactionist Perspective focuses on the primary role of sociocultural interaction in children’s development of language knowledge. This perspective contends that children acquire language through their attempts to communicate with the world around them. This perspective encourages teachers to focus on providing many social interactions in which oral and written language are used. Teachers should provide students with many “talking: opportunities, so children can begin to understand the ways in which language functions. Adults play an important role as they support children’s language development by serving as an expert who often creates conditions that make for effective communication. Adults can use the zone of proximal development by
Cultural intelligence is the capability that could give insights on how to cope with multi-cultural situations and how to engage properly in intercultural interactions. It is the individual’s ability to interact effectively in culturally diverse situations (Brislin, Worthley & Macnab, 2006). We could consider the cultural intelligence as constantly improving concept; something we can develop over time and it is not only changes through experience, but also through knowledge as well, which includes communication with other
I built upon my cross-cultural experiences as I befriended exchange students from Belgium, Japan, and Korea. Each time, the friendships enriched my appreciation and understanding of not only my own culture, but the very concept of culture. What falls under the cultural blanket can vary from person to person, and I found it to be very interesting that while one person could claim lan...
What aspects of intercultural communication have I faced in my life? In my community there are multiple mini marts and gas stations that are ran by people of other cultures. Many of these people that own and run these businesses have a hard time speaking English. I have learned that I have to slow down what I say so that they can process what I am wanting. There are also times that it is very hard for me to understand them. I feel so bad that I have to ask them to repeat
When individuals or groups from different cultures communicate, this process is called intercultural communication. The transaction process of listening and responding to people from different cultural backgrounds can be challenging. The greater the difference in culture between two people, the greater the potential of misunderstanding and mistrust. Misunderstanding and miscommunication occur between people from different cultures because of different coding rules and cultural norms, which play a major role in shaping the patterns of interaction (Jandt, 2012).
I think the best, most logical, and most realistic explanation of abnormal behavior is the multicultural model, which according to the textbook is “the view that each culture within a larger society has a particular set of values and beliefs, as well as special external pressures, that help account for the behavior of its members” (62). This particular model attributes environmental and social factors as causing abnormal and dysfunctional psychological functions, because of their prominent and powerful influence on individuals’ conscious and subconscious, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This models also acknowledges and respects cultural diversity, while catering to these differences in ways that specifically emphasizes and celebrates these
Cultural sensitivity occurs when people recognize and are aware that each country or various ethnic groups of people have their own set of experiences, beliefs, values, and language that affect their perceptions toward life. Addressing Cultural sensitivity permits people to comprehend that there are differences between cultures. Furthermore, having awareness in the differences between cultures permits a culturally competent person to communicate effectively with others that are outside of one’s realm. Some of the differences of Cultural sensitivity can be discovered while traveling outside of the country, such as through Cross-cultural sensitivity experiences. Likewise, a culture has its own norms and beliefs to how one should dress; how one should greet others, such as by referring to a significant individual by his or her first name or surname (comprehending which name should be stated first in foreign names); and/or what foods are permitted to eat or forbidden to eat or understanding what may offend a person (e.g. not accepting a home cooked meal). There are norms, taboos, cultural cues, and cultural etiquette standards that are significant to learning about one’s culture before exploring another country or while working with people who are from your country but who are part of another racial group. It takes time and patience to build a high level of Cultural sensitivity. Educating oneself with a culture’s psychology and its norms is significant toward achieving an increasing awareness toward Cultural sensitivity.
Culture is a powerful influence plays a big role in our interactions. Culture may also impact parenting style and a developing child. Having a strong sense of their own cultural history and the traditions associated with it helps children build a positive cultural identity for themselves. This also supports children’s sense of belonging and, by extension, their mental health and wellbeing. This class is crucial in understanding and working well parents, staff, and children. An effective educator understands how students’ cultures affect their perceptions, self-esteem, values, classroom behavior, and learning. As director, I need to use that understanding to help my students and staff feel welcomed, affirmed, respected, and valued. One way that I can do this is by using multicultural literature, especially children’s literature, to honor students’ culture and foster cross-cultural understanding. If cultural differences are not understood by teachers and management, it can lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings on both sides. It will be my job to do all I can to overcome both language and cultural differences to ensure a positive learning environment for
I wasn 't quite sure what I was getting into when I first enrolled in Intercultural Communications. I had assumptions as to the goals of the course such as I would be learning about the way cultures interact with each other, learn about communication in general, or I would be learning about the ways we use communication through our culture. I think that I achieve the latter goal, but I also gained knowledge about more then just my culture. I came to realize that there is more to a culture than just language, appearances, and customs, which are aspects of culture that could be seen above the waterline, or they are more noticeable/obvious to someone outside of that culture. There are aspects of culture that are below the waterline, or more
In most institutions of learning today, the classes are made up of students from different ethnic backgrounds. These have different traditions and also speak different languages. In a typical classroom, the majority of the students will speak the same language. The teacher must then employ strategies which will accommodate all the students in the class. This will ensure that every learner gets the best quality of education. This will enable them to be better prepared for career and expressing themselves. In this paper, strategies to assist learners of the English language in their literal development for third grade learners. In the paper, three strategies that can be used by the teacher will be discussed. New strategies and research that will help the English language learners to gain in depth mastery of the language will also be discussed. Due to the widespread learning of the English language in most schools, addressing issues of the language learners is of vital importance. Teachers should have the understanding that cultures are what give someone identity and therefore no student should leave their culture for another. Instead, there should be the blending of different cultures so that students can appreciate and learn from each other.