Post 177: Intercultural Communication Assignments

Post 177: Intercultural Communication Assignments

A) Find a blog that is of a different culture than your own. How are these blogs different from your culture? your beliefs? (Do not find a blog about your own culture or your own beliefs) You must find a blog that is of a different culture.

Korean American Story (Video Interviews)
Mia Mingus (Intersectionality)
Angry Asian Men
Black Girl Dangerous
Notes from a Hyphenated American
Or find your own ethnic blog!

B) How will demographics affect intercultural communication? It is projected by 2050, more than 60% of Americans will be from non-European ethnic groups. How will the 'browning of America' affect US policy? US self image?

C) Culture can be defined as a programming of the mind. It is a system of shared beliefs, customs and language. Write a paper talking about the dominant values of your own culture. If you are from America, write about American culture. If you are Chinese, write about Chinese culture. Write about your home culture and your home country. Our culture acts like a computer code that directs how we feel and how we act. Talk to others of your own culture influences how you act, speak and interact with others and write in your paper the results of your research.

1. How do you define your culture? (Note: People define their culture through their race, ethnicity, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation. military and professional affiliation.)

2. What values are the most meaningful in your culture? Do you come from a culture that values the individual or do you come from a more group oriented culture? What are some of your family traditions? How would you define your culture? What influence has family tradition had on you? What is your cultural identity? What factors influence your sense of identity?

3. Do you speak another language at home?

4. What are some examples of non-verbal communication in your culture? ways of greeting people? no eye contact or eye contact? shake hands or not shake hands?

5. How does your family trace its roots? Where did your ancestors/family come from? Why did they come to the US? Were they forced to come to the US? Were they refugees? Did they come because of persecution/violence in their country? or did they come to the US to get a job? for a better economic future? or are you Native American and you are originally from North America? How did the colonization of the West affect your tribe?  What is your home country? What is your ancestral home?

6. What does your culture teach you to relate to people? Do you value work over people or people over work? How are people judged for advancement at work? status? family? rank? seniority at company? loyalty? age? work performance?
7. What is the work ethic of your culture? Is business  more important than leisure time? Is leisure time/socialization more important than work? or does your culture try to strike a balance between the two?
8. Does your culture embrace technology? How does your culture adapt to change?
9. How do members of your culture preserve their heritage in a multicultural environment? What is the source of your cultural identity? or cultural pride? Who are your cultural heroes/role models?
10. What do you like best about your culture? What do you like least about your culture?

C) As you look through the projects your fellow students have posted to the forum, which project do you like best and why?
    Which of your classmates' projects reflect your culture and your beliefs? Which of your classmates' projects do not reflect your culture or your beliefs and why?

D) Make a photo collage that best reflects your cultural heritage and cultural identity. You can post pictures of people in traditional costume, pictures of the foods you eat, cultural heroes, places to visit in your home country, holiday pictures, how your culture celebrates a wedding, party, or funeral.

E) How does history affect intercultural communication? How does your family history affect your cultural identity?  Does US history fairly portray Native Americans history? African American history? Asian American history in the history books you learned as a child? How does it make you feel if a history book says nothing about the achievements of your ethnic group? marginalized? alienated? celebrated? Can we know who we are without being influenced by the history of our host culture or our family?