Reflection #5 EDF2085 culture and incultration competence

Samantha Clarke
EDF2085 reflection #5

Culture and Intercultural Competence

Culture is one complex topic! However we all are involved in culture individually or collectively and we all act and behave according to what we have learnt through culture. In my opinion, the term culture may be defined as the social norms to which a particular group identifies with, it shape the way they think, act and believe and also how they view and interact with others outside their group or culture. This article is a reflection of the readings culture: creating context 2 and intercultural competences. I will share what insight I have gained through reading these article.

Upon reading these articles I have come to realize how complex culture can become. It is rather a sensitive subject when it comes to understanding other and their beliefs. One can never fathom the true essence and sacredness of another culture unless they have developed intercultural competence. This leads me to ask the question, can any one-person become completely intercultrally competent? It is often believe by one group or another that their culture is distinct and superior to other culture. However on the other hand no one culture is independent of the other. The human spirit has to interact with others and other culture in order to form the true foundation of their culture. Each one teachers the other, or the other pushes each one to the extent of their beliefs or norms.

A country as the United States of America might have never though of the implications of culture and cultural influences. In our schools today teachers are faced with the complexity of multiculturalism. Classrooms are now so diverse that in order to accommodate each student an understanding of culture is required and in addition to acquiring this knowledge they themselves have to go through a process of transformation and then transmit this information to the coming generation. However the process of migration, enculturation and acculturation has been taking place for century and it is now that most society is dealing with it in a humane manner and integrating the understanding in our schools.

I have also learned that culture can be learned, transmitted or shared and student are often victims of enculturation, they acquire their knowledge from teaches, other students and most important their parents. Even though culture can be learned it can also be loss through various forms such as acculturation and wars just to name a few. However learning about these issues is advantageous in the understanding and interaction with others of different culture.