Introduction toThe Culture Bump Approach

orA Guide to Universal

Connections

Dr. Carol M. Archer

OVERVIEW

• Three definitions– Culture Bump– Culture Bump Approach– Culture

An Overview of how the Culture Bump Developed

Culture Bump Approach used in:

TrainingCommunity BuildingCorporate TrainingWritings

What is a culture bump?

• A culture bump is merely a cultural difference….

• Watch two young men as they culture bump…Josh from the USA and Mazen from Syria

• http://www.culturebump.com/

What is a culture bump?

• A culture bump is merely a cultural difference….

• An “apparent absurdity” - Hans Georg Gadamer

• A “cultural trace” - Martine Abdallah-Pretceille

• A hiccup…anonymous

a seed

Culture Bump Approach to Differences

Culture Bump Approach

• Combines multicultural education and cross cultural communication - both of which focus on differences, but takes multicultural issues a “step beyond diversity” and provides the “next step” in cross cultural communication. It does this by…

Culture Bump Approach

Shifting the focus from understanding cultural characteristics as a means of dealing with differences to…

Culture Bump Approach

Dealing with the difference itself.

Thus, people are in process with culture rather than being a product of

culture.

Culture Bump Approach

Provides a specific change mechanism.

Humans…Being Connected

Culture Bump Approach

DefinitionTheoryStepsSkillsToolkitTrainingResearch Publication

Toolkit for Culture and Communication

PerceptionsCulture BumpValues and BehaviorsCommunicationHuman CommonalitiesEmotional IntelligenceCultural Adjustment

Definition of Culture within the Culture Bump Approach

Culture Defined In the Culture Bump Approach, culture is viewed as a collection of interpretative frames shared by groups of individuals to varying degrees along a continuum. In this concept, the interpretative frames are never identical for any two people, and it is only when a group of individuals share a majority of similar interpretative frames that a culture can be said to exist. This definition allows for the phenomenon of individuals sharing interpretative frames with more than one group as well as for the phenomenon of individuals sharing very few interpretative frames about a particular theme. When individuals share a minimum number of interpretative frames about a particular theme, a cross cultural relationship can be said to exist.

CM Archer 1996

Sample Cultural Groups

• Gender• Ethnicity• Socio-economic• Religion• Tribe

• Race• Language• Sexual Orientation• National Origin• Age

Some Culture Bump Theory and Protocol (Steps)

Culture Bump Steps

1. Pinpoint the bump2. Describe what he/she did3. Describe what you did4. List your emotions when it happened5. Find the universal situation in the incident when it

happened6. List your expectations for that universal7. Find the meaning for you when your expectations

are met8. Have a conversation with “them” about how they

find that meaning

Culture Bump Steps

Lead to:

A. DetachmentB. Recognition of cultural relativismC. Recognition of common humanity

At the moment of the bump, two things occur simultaneously

• We experience Emotional disconnection• We experience

– Rationaldisconnection

Knowledge Dichotomy

• We experience Rational disconnection

Leading to a lack of awareness of why we are different….

• We experienceEmotionaldisconnection

Leading to a lack knowledge of how we are the same…

This is a conversation about life - about living life – a “Culture Free” interaction

• A conversation that can continue for a very long time and one that deepens our human connection…

• Includes cultural information but• Allows for personal and individuality• Includes self-reflection

A little history about the culture bump…

1978

• Cross Cultural Communication

Course developed at LCC(Language & Culture Center) UH for advanced level students

• For students• For teachers

• Best Practices Stanford U Institute– LSU: Pierre Casse– UT – Dana Adelman

– Corporate training• George Renwick &

Associates• http://www.culturebump

.com/uncategorized/the-beginnings-of-the-culture-bump-journey

1980s

• A second level of Cross Cultural Communication

Course developedat LCC for advanced level students

• Became a reverse ICW

– Perceptions– Cultural Values– Communication– Cultural Adjustment

Books from…..1986

1990s

• Basic course with text (ICW)

• Advanced course built on the basic course

• Advanced Individual Coaching

But with Culture Bumpadded…Living with Strangers in the USA

1994

Then…

• September 11,2001• The Toolkit for Culture

and Communication was developed for the University of Houston Intellectual Property

2002-2009

• http://culturebump.com/the-tool-kit

Marketed through the Intellectual Property of UH and Continuing Education at UH for $250.00

2009

• http://culturebump.com/the-tool-kit

The physical Toolkit was re-designed for website and made available to public for free.

2010

• Toolkit for Culture & Communication

Licensed to Auburn UniversityFaculty Development

PublishingTrain Trainers

Outreach K-1 On-line classes

Training EFL teachersCyber training with students

Some applications..

Culture Bump Trainers work in:U. S. MilitaryAIESECPersonal coachingHigher EdDiversity training

ESL Education Corporate training

Building America’s Villages

Training Fulbright Scholar Applicants Culture Bump App in Global Classrooms

Applied to Science & Math teacher training

Applied to translation of allusions from one language to another

T.V.

• http://www.wtvm.com/story/21130189/au-tkae

http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/2012/04/11/34507/uh-moment-cultural-connections

Applied to immigrant and American communities…

Culture Bump Publications Partial List

Archer, C.M., Nickson, S. (2012). Culture Bump: An Instructional Process for Cultural Insight in Handbook of College and University Teaching: Global Perspectives. (Eds. Groccia, Alsudari, Buskist )Sage Publishing

Archer, C.M., Nickson, S. The Role of Culture Bump in Developing Intercultural Communication Competency and Internationalizing Psychology. Psychology Learning and Teaching Journal (PLAT). Volume 11(3) November 2012.

Archer, C.M., Nickson, S. Chaudhury, S. R., (2013). The Impact of Culture Bump and Technology on Creating Effective Diversity Leadership in Technology as a Tool for Diversity Leadership: Implementation and Future Implications. (Ed. Lewis, J.) IGI Global Publishing

Archer, C. M., Tesh G. Culture Bump Guides: Culture Bump Kids. Textesol IV Newsletter. March 15, 2012

Niknasab, L. Translation and Culture: Allusions as Culture Bumps. SKASE Journal of Translation and Interpretation, Volume5 (1) March 2011

Culture Bump Publications Partial List

Wenying, J. Handling Culture Bumps. ELT Journal, Volume 55(4) October 2001.

Leppihalme, R. (1997) Culture Bumps: An empirical approach to the translation of allusions. Multilingual Matters. Helsinki, Finland.

Archer, C.M. (1990). Living With Strangers in the USA: Communicating beyond culture. Prentice Hall. New York

Partial List of Organizations Trained in Culture Bump Approach

• Shell/Pecten Oil• World Trade Center• Longview ISD• Lanxess• Halliburton Oil• Esso Eastern• Exxon• KBR• Auburn University• University of Houston• Lone Star College• St. Paul’s Methodist Church• College of the Mainland

NOW!!

The Global Classrooms App is here

Exploring Global ClassroomsWith Culture Bumps

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.culture.bump

Can download on a computer usingBluestacks App Player

Tutorials for teachers

Multicultural classrooms• http://www.culturebump.co

m/uncategorized/how-to-use-the-global-classrooms-app-culturally-mixed-classrooms/

Single culture classrooms• http://www.culturebump.co

m/uncategorized/how-to-use-the-global-classrooms-app-culturally-homogenous-classrooms/

Humans…Being Connected