COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS PRESENTS BUMP A PRESENTATION ON CULTURE

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS PRESENTS BUMP!!! A PRESENTATION ON CULTURE BY KIMBERLY CONNELLY, KUMC SENIOR INTERNATIONAL OFFICER AND DIRECTOR, OIP

ME AND MY DISCLAIMER Interest in culture began in grade school with Vietnamese family friends; Studied French in high school and college Spent my junior summer in Belgium; Lived on the tiny island of Pohnpei, the Federated States of Micronesia, 7 degrees above the equator (3, 823 miles from KC to Hawaii and another 3, 216 miles from Hawaii to Pohnpei); Married a Pohnpeian (now divorced and remarried). Taught ESL for 20 years and have had taught international students and worked with internationals from +/- 125 different countries. I am not an expert on any culture. I attempt to know myself, my rules and my expectations which are formed by my personal experiences starting with my family.

IN YOUR OWN WORDS, WHAT IS CULTURE?

THE ICEBERG METAPHOR OF CULTURE

EDWARD T. HALL’S CULTURAL ICEBERG MODEL Edward T. Hall’s Cultural Iceberg Model In 1976, Hall developed the iceberg analogy of culture. If the culture of a society was the iceberg, Hall reasoned, than there are some aspects visible, above the water, but there is a larger portion hidden beneath the surface. What does that mean? The external, or conscious, part of culture is what we can see and is the tip of the iceberg and includes behaviors and some beliefs. The internal, or subconscious, part of culture is below the surface of a society and includes some beliefs and the values and thought patterns that underlie behavior. There are major differences between the conscious and unconscious culture. Internal vs. External • Internal: Implicitly Learned, Unconscious, Difficult to Change, Subjective Knowledge • External: Explicitly Learned, Conscious, Easily Changed, Objective Knowledge

“WE MUST TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW INDIVIDUALS FROM THAT CULTURE AND INTERACT WITH THEM. ” Hall suggests that the only way to learn the internal culture of others is to actively participate in their culture. When one first enters a new culture, only the most overt behaviors are apparent. As one spends more time in that new culture, the underlying beliefs, values, and thought patterns that dictate that behavior will be uncovered. What this model teaches us is that we cannot judge a new culture based only on what we see when we first enter it. We must take the time to get to know individuals from that culture and interact with them. Only by doing so can we uncover the values and beliefs that underlie the behavior of that society. Source: Beyond Culture (1976) by Edward T. Hall

NITZA HIDALGO’S THREE LEVELS OF CULTURE Concrete: This is the most visible and tangible level of culture, and includes the most surfacelevel dimensions such as clothes, music, food, games, etc. These aspects of culture are often those which provide the focus for multicultural "festivals" or "celebrations. " Behavioral: This level of culture clarifies how we define our social roles, the language we speak, and our approaches to nonverbal communication. The Behavioral level REFLECTS our values. Aspects to be listed in this category include language, gender roles, family structure, political affiliation, and other items that situation us organizationally in society. Symbolic: This level of culture includes our values and beliefs. It can be abstract, but it is most often the key to how individuals define themselves. It includes values systems, customs, spirituality, religion, worldview, beliefs, mores, etc.

CULTURE: IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU SHARE about yourself What culture (group) or cultures (groups) do you belong to that form your world view, rules and expectations? Draw a symbol that represents your culture or an aspect of your culture. Share with a partner.

CULTURE BUMPS: CASE STUDIES Read Discuss/Analyze with a partner: What was your initial reaction? What does that reveal about your culture, rules and expectations? What are the possible rules, assumptions or cultural values that are in conflict? Where would this fall on the “Iceberg of Culture”? Share as a group

WHAT IN THE WORLD? !? A CASE STUDY OF CULTURE An American is attending church for the first time in another country with her host family. When she is informed that it is time to go to church, she walks up the mountain with her family. It’s mid-morning, so she expects church will start at about 10: 00 am. When she and her family arrive, they join everyone else and all sit outside around the church in the shade. Everyone is talking and hanging out. An hour or so passes, but there is no indication of when church will begin. The American is a bit confused about when church will begin. Finally, she asks a person when the church service is expected to begin. The person very matterof-factly answers, “When everyone gets here. ”

WHAT IN THE WORLD? !? A CASE STUDY OF CULTURE An American volunteer on the tiny island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia is often confused and offended. Every time she walks past a person’s house – even a complete stranger – the person says, “Come and eat. ” She isn’t sure how to respond… And every time she sees anyone, the person asks, “Where are you going? ” Sometimes she is walking to the bathroom. . . She always tells people where she is going, but she feels her destination or what she is doing is no one’s business. Although she thinks Pohnpeians are very nice people, she feels that they are a bit nosy.

CULTURE BUMPS In your own words, what is a Culture Bump? Can you avoid them? How do you handle them?

CULTURE BUMPS DEFINED When encountering individuals from a culture other than our own, we are inevitably faced with situations that are confusing, upsetting, embarrassing or even offensive. Our assumptions, expectations or “rules of behavior” conflict…These situations are called “CULTURE BUMPS” because two cultures have “bumped” into each other causing the exchange to be bumpy or not smooth or comfortable.

A newly arrived volunteer is working in another country at a high school and has been assigned as an advisor to the student government organization along with a local man who has been teaching at the school for many years and also serves as the vice principal. The new volunteer suggests that they meet on Saturday at 3: 00 to discuss activities and plans for the student government organization. She believes that the vice principal agreed to the meeting. On Saturday, the volunteer waits for the vice principal at the appointed time and place, but finally leaves at 4: 30. When she asks the vice principal about it on Monday, he tells her she should know when “yes” means “yes” and “yes” means “no. ” WHAT IN THE WORLD? !? A CASE STUDY OF CULTURE

LOW-CONTEXT CULTURE VS. HIGH CONTEXT In general, is America a Low-Context or High-Context culture?

LOW CONTEXT VS HIGH CONTEXT CULTURE Low-Context Culture (US) High-Context Culture 1. Overtly displays meanings through direct communication forms. 1. Implicitly embeds meanings at different levels of the sociocultural context. 2. Values individualism. 2. Values group sense. 3. Tends to develop transitory personal relationship. 3. Tends to take time to cultivate and establish a permanent personal relationship. 4. Emphasizes linear logic. 4. Emphasizes spiral logic. 5. Values direct verbal interaction and is less able to read nonverbal expressions. 5. Values indirect verbal interaction and is more able to read nonverbal expressions. 6. Tends to use "logic" to present ideas. 6. Tends to use more "feeling" in expression. 7. Tends to emphasize highly structured messages, give details, and place great stress on words and technical signs. 7. Tends to give simple, ambiguous, noncontexting messages.

WHAT IN THE WORLD? !? A CASE STUDY OF CULTURE A girl who has just arrived in Kansas City from Kenya is surprised at how friendly everyone is! Everyone smiles at her. At first, this seems very odd to her, but she just assumes everyone really likes her. She cannot believe how many people want to be her friend. She is disappointed three weeks into being at her new university because everyone smiles at her and says “Hi”, but no one invites her to their home nor engages her in a meaningful conversation.

What is non-verbal communication? Definition (CBC): “nonverbal communication involves those nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting that are generated by both the source [speaker] and his or her use of the environment and that have potential message value for the source or receiver [listener] (Samovar et al). Basically it is sending and receiving messages in a variety of ways without the use of verbal codes (words). It is both intentional and unintentional. Most speakers / listeners are not conscious of this. It includes — but is not limited to: – touch – glance – eye contact (gaze) – volume – vocal nuance – proximity – gestures – facial expression ? pause (silence) – intonation – dress – posture – smell – word choice and syntax – sounds (paralanguage) http: //www 2. andrews. edu/~tidwell/bsad 560/Non. Verbal. html 90% of communication is non-verbal, and 100% of non-verbal is culturally contextual. Have you ever been confused by someone's non-verbal communication like gesture, tone of voice, touch etc?

CULTURE BUMPS: WHAT CAN WE DO? Understand that body language and all non-verbal communication are not universal Do not react with anger Try to give the person “the benefit of the doubt” and suspend judgment Ask for clarification Observe Remember intention is everything Be willing to apologize

What belief/assumption does each expression reflect or highlight? OUR CULTURAL VALUES “Everyone smiles in the same language. ” “You are color blind. ” “There is no such thing as a free lunch. ” “Curiosity killed the cat. ” “The early bird catches the worm. ”

What are some of your values and how do you show them? OUR VALUES For example, do you value RESPECT? How do you show respect? List a couple

OUR PERSONAL VALUES What do you think: A teacher commented that her ESL student seemed “to always be hiding something…he seems so dishonest and simply disrespectful. ” Can you guess what the student was doing? What can you do if your value and someone else's value is the same but is contrary in how it is shown or conveyed?

WHAT OBSTRUCTS OUR UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER? KNOWING what is true KNOWING our way is the only way or at least the only right way Lack of awareness of our self and our own culture, rules and expectations Being sure Our bias -- unconscious or even conscious bias QT EXAMPLE -- Our thoughts prevent us from hearing (or listening). https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=cr. Av 5 ttax 2 I

Starts with each of us Self-awareness Believing that there may be CREATING A CULTURE OF INCLUSIVENESS other ways… Not being so sure… Becoming aware of unconscious bias Being genuinely interested in others and other ways (you don’t have to change your ways) Being inquisitive – asking “What are your rules? ” Observing closely Listening

ONE AND DONE?