Culture, what's it all about?

Teaching

Culture, whats it all about?

Part of the Navitas Group

Part of the Navitas Groupwww.napier.ac.uk/eic1

Hello, Ciao, HolaWho am I?Manager of Academic & Student Services at Edinburgh International College, Scotland, UKBorn and bred in Edinburgh, Italian family, lived in Spain

Why am I doing this?Inspired by an online course Intercultural Communication created by Shanghai International Studies University (SISU)https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/intercultural-communication

What am I hoping to achieve?Increase awareness of the significance of culture and inspire further discussion about how cultural issues impact on HEShed some light on students experiences when they move to a new culturePathway College students double culture shock?!

Part of the Navitas Groupwww.napier.ac.uk/eic

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Where should we start(The Inclusion Solution Cultural Umbrella, n.d.)


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Where should we start

(British weather postcard, n.d.)(British Breakfast, n.d.)

(Touring Italy Masks, n.d.)

http://fromspanishtoespanol.weebly.com/uploads/3/7/1/7/37175489/2920907_orig.jpg


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Peeling onionsSome aspects of culture are easily noticeable

It usually takes interaction to bring out or understand deeper layers of culture or identity

No matter what colour an onion is on the outside, we are not sure what is inside!

(Ethos, 2012)


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Culture shock

(Toto, 2013)


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Culture shock

(Expressions: Shock, n.d.)


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Culture shock

(The Tuscan, 2016)


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Culture shocka feeling of confusion felt by someone visiting a country or place that they do not know (Turner, 2006)

Psychological: loneliness, homesickness, frustration with self or hosts, depression, agitation, outbreaks of suppressed anger, aggression, moments hostility, hatred.Physical: headaches, stomach aches, dizziness, unsettledness, seeking to suppress the bad feelings with too much eating, drinking and sleeping.


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Feeling like a fish out of water!

(A fish out of water by Carrie Jackson, 2016)


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Feeling like a fish out of water!In our own culture we can be said to be as comfortable as a fish is in water.

To be like a fish out of water isWhere we unexpectedly or possibly even expectedly find ourselves out of our context or cultural comfort zoneConfused by cuesMisunderstanding meaningsUsually experiencing discomfort

This metaphor was used as early as 1952 by Kalvero Oberg

(Oberg, 1960)


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Carrying unnoticed cultural baggage

Culture hides much more than it reveals and strangely enough, what it hides, it hides most effectively from its own participants. Years of study have convinced me that the ultimate purpose of the study of culture is not so much the understanding of foreign cultures as much as the light that study sheds on our own.

(Hall, 1998)


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The W Curve

(Hoffenburger, Mosier, & Stokes, 1999)


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Barriers v potential solutions

Misunderstandings in class (understanding lecturers accents, verbal v written communication preferences)

Prior educational experience (expectations of the role of the teacher, tell me the answer, silence in exams)

Integration (loneliness, being able to continue hobbies)

Behaviours & sensitivities (punctuality, dress, eating, sleeping habits, personal space)

Use a variety of communication methods, use of alumni to interview staff/CPD in order to raise awareness

Pre departure information, orientation activities, Student Charter

Orientation, social programme, Facebook Group, student societies

Pre departure information (do students always receive this info? is it in an accessible format?)


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Pathway students double culture shockDifferences between pathway College and host University

Physical size of institutions can be very different

Class format and contact time per week

It can take a lot longer for students to get assessment feedback and responses to emails

Less spoon feeding

Mix of domestic and international students

EIC students enter in Year 2 or Year 3 when social groups have already formed


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Q&A and Scottish phrases quiz with student!


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Want moreThought provokingThe danger of the single story (TED talk)http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story

FunnyCross cultural communication (Pellegrino Riccardi)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMyofREc5Jk

Further studyCheck out the Future Learn coursehttps://www.futurelearn.com/courses/intercultural-communication


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ReferencesA fish out of water by Carrie Jackson. (2016). Retrieved December 16, 2016, from Fine Art America, http://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-fish-out-of-water-carrie-jackson.htmlBritish Breakfast. Retrieved December 16, 2016, from Made up in Britain, http://madeupinbritain.uk/britimages/Full_English_Breakfast.jpgBritish weather postcard. Retrieved December 16, 2016, from Social Media Pinimg.com, https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b6/2e/3d/b62e3de1f365c3f799a597147823d68d.jpgBull Fighting. Retrieved December 16, 2016, from From Spanish to Espanol, http://fromspanishtoespanol.weebly.com/uploads/3/7/1/7/37175489/2920907_orig.jpgEthos, I. (2012, March 29). Iceberg analogy. Retrieved December 16, 2016, from Wordpress, http://crossculturalargentina.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/iceberg-analogy/Expressions: Shock. Retrieved December 16, 2016, from Pinterest, https://uk.pinterest.com/amckeen0428/expressions-shock/Hall, A. (1998). The Power of Hidden Differences. In Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication: Selected Readings. Yarmouth, Vermont: Intercultural Press. Hoffenburger, K., Mosier, R., & Stokes, B. (1999). Educational programming and student learning in college and university residence halls. Columbus, OH: ACUHO-I.Oberg, K. (1960). Cultural Shock: Adjustment to New Cultural Environments. Practical Anthropology, 7, 177182. Turner, B. S. (Ed.). (2006). The Cambridge dictionary of sociology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.The Inclusion Solution Cultural Umbrella. Retrieved December 16, 2016, from The Inclusion Solution, http://www.theinclusionsolution.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/culture-umbrella.pngThe Tuscan. (2016). Just another mile forward - just another mile forward. Retrieved December 16, 2016, from Any Latitude, http://www.anylatitude.com/category/expat-life/culture-shock/ Toto, C. (2013, October 14). The meaning of life set early standard for shock comedy. Retrieved December 16, 2016, from Big Hollywood, http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2013/10/14/meaning-life-original-shock-comedy/Touring Italy Masks. Retrieved December 16, 2016, from Touring Italy, http://touringitaly.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/cultura-e-tradizioni.jpg


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