After taking this class, I have learned several things that will help me in the future. The latter is especially the case because I plan on becoming a teacher. And teachers encounter several individuals from different cultures. Nonetheless, after taking this course, I am now more aware of a world existing outside of my world. For instance, even though I spend most of my days in relatively safe and harmless environments, other individuals from different cultures are migrating to different countries and regions either willingly or unwillingly. More to the point, I have learned that some cultures/individuals still face stereotypes and discrimination, such as people of different cultures facing discrimination in the workplace. The most important thing I have learned in this course, though, is that if I want to be able to communicate well with a person(s) of different culture(s), then I should at least understand the basic cultural habits/preferences of the cultures.
As far as my intercultural communication expertise, I would have to say that I’m a complete amateur. I am immature with intercultural communications primarily because I have never spent much time around other cultures. I have not done much traveling, and neither have I had many friends from cross-cultures. Furthermore, if I was to enter into the workforce sometime soon, I think I would have a tough time readying myself to handle the diversity of today’s world. For instance, I still wonder how I should behave in front of people of different cultures. I’m sure my anxiety in front of different cultures will diminish as I age, but I hope I can become a better intercultural communicator as soon as possible.
As I grow older, I hope to develop my intercultural communication skills. First of all, I hope to do more traveling than what I have been able to do thus far. I have always wanted to travel more often, so whenever I start making a living of my own, I hope to travel to different parts of the world. That way I will experience several different cultures.
Secondly, I plan on reading more international literature. As an English Major, I have only had to concentrate on American and British literature, so upon graduating I hope to be able to read more international writings. In doing so, I hope to become more aware of international issues, at least issues spreading through literature.
Thirdly, I want to watch television more carefully. As a kid, I don’t think I noticed some of the stereotypes that television has placed on some cultures or personalities. So, if I watch television with a more careful eye, I will be able to recognize when a person(s) are being treated unfairly.
Lastly, I would like to become more familiar with the politics of the whole world. Throughout most of my life I have been adamant about my disinterest with politics, but figuring the world is changing economically in exponential ways, I would like to familiarize myself with the global world.
Nonetheless, I am anxious to learn about different cultures because I think globalization is an overall good thing for everybody. Obviously people can disagree with the latter, but I hope that with so much diversity in the world we can learn from one another.
Question: Has your upbringing prepared you to be competent in intercultural communication? If so, in what ways? If not, what other than the media has influenced your opinion in regards to intercultural communication.
I don’t think my up bringing prepared me for intercultural communication. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, there wasn’t much diversity and I didn’t travel much so I wasn’t exposed to things that way either. Other than the media, my parents influenced my intercultural communication. I thought that however they communicated was the appropriate way to communicate with other cultures.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Jordan. I have grown up in a very small farm town in Minnesota. I have not had much range of different cultures coming from a small town. Even going to River Falls, it's a little different but I still don't see as much of a cultural difference as if I would've gone to the U of M. My up bringing didn't prepare me for the many different cultures out there and I didn't and still don't know much about all the different cultures, so I did rely on the media to influence what I'm supposed to think of other cultures, but from taking this course I've learned that's not the best idea considering I don't want other cultures only assuming what I'm like from watching American tv shows!
ReplyDeleteI am in the same boat as Jordan and Katie. I did not have any experience in dealing with different cultures as I grew up I have always been surrounded by people of the same race and similar cultures. This class has really taught me about intercultural communication. With out haveing any knowledge about other cultures how will we communicate with them when that time comes.
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