TALKING CULTURES: An

Introduction to Intercultural
Awareness Competencies
WORKSHOP
 Workshop Overview

• Introductions
• Aims and Objectives
• Themes of workshop : what is culture?; cultural identity; differences
between cultures; why is culture important?; ethnocentrism
• Reflection and Feedback
 What is culture?

• “Culture or Civilization, taken in its widest

ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which
includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, custom, and
any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as
a member of society” Tylor 1968 [1871]
 What is culture?

“People become aware of their culture when

they stand at its boundaries: when they
encounter other cultures, or when they become
aware of other ways of doing things, or merely
of contradictions to their own culture”

Cohen, Anthony P. (1985)

 What is culture?

• “Culture is defined as a system of shared values and

beliefs which gives us a sense of belonging or
identity. Culture can be discussed in terms of ways
in which people pertaining to a group, society or
organisation behave, communicate and think, and
perceive reality. Each culture exhibits people’s
perceptions of reality”. (Weaver, 2000)
 Discussion Point 1

In small groups, discuss and make notes on the following

questions below:

• What does cultural identity mean to you?

• What elements contribute to a person’s cultural identity?

• How would you identify your culture? (revisit definitions)

 Discussion Point 2
Fundamental differences between
cultures
In small groups/pairs discuss the similarities and differences between your
cultures with regard to:

• Dress
• Gender roles
• Social activities
• Meeting and Greeting
• Gestures
• Dining Etiquette
• Food
• Language
 Why is culture important?
• Culture has certain characteristics – learned,
transmitted through generations, symbolic and
changeable over time.
• Culture is Ethnocentric; and has both visible and
invisible attributes
• Cultural Perspectives: Emic vs etic
• Need to be culturally aware in order to be able to
interpret someone’s behaviour relative to its cultural
context.
 Ethnocentrism

• What is Ethnocentrism?
• Discussion point 1 – your experience of
ethnocentrism
• Why is one cultural group better or worse than
any other? Discussion point 2: Video input
followed by discussions
• Knowledge about your own culture
• Discussion point 3
 What is ethnocentrism?
• Ethnocentrism is judging another culture solely by the values
and standards of one's own culture. This is particularly
concerned with language, behaviour, customs, and religion.

• These ethnic distinctions and subdivisions serve to define each

ethnicity's unique cultural identity.

• The term ethnocentrism was created by William G. Sumner,

when observing the tendency for people to differentiate
between the ‘ingroup’ and others. He described it as often
leading to pride, vanity, beliefs of one's own group's superiority,
and contempt of outsiders (wikipedia.org).
 Discussion Point 3
In small groups, discuss and make notes on the following
questions below:

• Can you recall a time when you have been ethnocentric

to someone else?

• Has anyone ever made you uncomfortable or offended

because of ethnocentrism?

• How can we avoid getting caught up in ethnocentrism?

 Discussion Point 4:
Why is one cultural group better or worse than any other?

Watch the following video clip and in a small groups discuss the questions below:

A.

You Tube (2008)

1. Did you identify any signs of ethnocentrism in the following videos?

2. What potential issues did you identify in the videos?
3. A way of avoiding ethnocentrism is to have a good understanding of different
cultures. Do you think we have the right to understand the culture of the
Amazonian tribe in the video?
 Discussion Point 5:
Continued

Watch the following video clip and in a small groups discuss the questions
below:

B.

You Tube (2010)

1. Did you identify any signs of ethnocentrism in the following videos?

2. What potential issues did you identify in the videos?
3. The Papua New Guinean tribe in the video seem to know a lot about our
culture, is it not fair that we should know more about their culture?
 Discussion Point 6
continued:
Watch the second video clip and discuss the questions below:

C.

You Tube (2009)

1. Did you identify any signs of ethnocentrism in the following videos?

2. What potential issues did you identify in the videos?
3. How may these issues be avoided?
 References
Hofstede, Geert (1980) Culture’s Consequences: International
Differences in Work-Related Values. Beverly Hills CA: Sage
Publications.
Hofstede, Geert (2001) Culture’s Consequences, (Second Edition):
Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations
Across Nations. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage Publications.
Tylor, Edward B. 1968 [1871] The Science of Culture. In Morton Fried,
ed., Readings in Anthropology, vol. II: Cultural Anthropology.
New York: Crowell
Weaver, G., R. (Ed.). (2000). Culture, communication and conflicts:
Readings in intercultural relations (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson
publishing.
 References

You Tube (2008) Untouched Amazonian Tribe Caught On Camera Available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16fvTonR_gA&feature=related
[Accessed on 17th July 2012)
You Tube (2009) Cultural Differences National Geographic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0kzF4A-WQ&feature=related [Accessed
on 17th July 2012)
You Tube (2010) Trouble for the tribe hunters - First Contact – BBC. Available
at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0glz_gLQgE&feature=relmfu
[Accessed on 17th July 2012)
Wikipedia.org (2012) Ethnocentrism. Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnocentrism [Accessed 13th July, 2012]
 Reflection

• What have you learnt today?

• Do you feel more confident interacting with
other cultures?
• How do you think you will apply this in
your next seminar, or in your on/off
campus accommodation?