Culture: An Exploration by Kimberly Connelly
COMMUNITY
CONVERSATIONS
PRESENTS
BUMP!!!
A PRESENTATION ON CULTURE
BY KIMBERLY CONNELLY, KUMC SENIOR
INTERNATIONAL OFFICER AND DIRECTOR, OIP
ME AND MY
DISCLAIMER
Interest in culture began in grade school with
Vietnamese family friends;
Studied French in high school and college
Spent my junior summer in Belgium;
Lived on the tiny island of Pohnpei, the Federated
States of Micronesia, 7 degrees above the equator
(3,823 miles from KC to Hawaii and another 3,216
miles from Hawaii to Pohnpei);
Married a Pohnpeian (now divorced and
remarried).
Taught ESL for 20 years and have had taught
international students and worked with
internationals from +/- 125 different countries.
I am not an expert on any culture. I attempt
to know myself, my rules and my
expectations which are formed by my
personal experiences starting with my
family.
IN YOUR OWN
WORDS, WHAT
IS CULTURE?
THE ICEBERG METAPHOR OF CULTURE
EDWARD T. HALL’S CULTURAL ICEBERG MODEL
“WE MUST TAKE
THE TIME TO
GET TO KNOW
INDIVIDUALS
FROM THAT
CULTURE AND
INTERACT WITH
THEM.”
Hall suggests that the only way to learn the internal culture
of others is to actively participate in their culture. When one
first enters a new culture, only the most overt behaviors are
apparent. As one spends more time in that new culture, the
underlying beliefs, values, and thought patterns that dictate
that behavior will be uncovered. What this model teaches us
is that we cannot judge a new culture based only on what
we see when we first enter it. We must take the time to get
to know individuals from that culture and interact with
them. Only by doing so can we uncover the values and
beliefs that underlie the behavior of that society.
Source: Beyond Culture (1976) by Edward T. Hall
NITZA HIDALGO’S THREE
LEVELS OF CULTURE
Concrete:
This is the most visible and tangible
level of culture, and includes the most surface-level
dimensions such as clothes, music, food, games,
etc. These aspects of culture are often those which
provide the focus for multicultural "festivals" or
"celebrations."
Behavioral:
This level of culture clarifies how we
define our social roles, the language we speak, and
our approaches to nonverbal communication. The
Behavioral level REFLECTS our values. Aspects to
be listed in this category include language, gender
roles, family structure, political affiliation, and other
items that situation us organizationally in society.
Symbolic:
This level of culture includes our values
and beliefs. It can be abstract, but it is most often
the key to how individuals define themselves. It
includes values systems, customs, spirituality,
religion, worldview, beliefs, mores, etc.
CULTURE: IT’S ALL
ABOUT YOU
SHARE about yourself
What culture (group) or
cultures (groups) do you
belong to that form your world
view, rules and expectations?
Draw a symbol that represents
your culture or an aspect of
your culture.
Share with a partner.
CULTURE BUMPS: CASE STUDIES
Read
Discuss/Analyze with a partner:
What was your initial reaction?
What does that reveal about your culture, rules and expectations?
What are the possible rules, assumptions or cultural values that are in conflict?
Where would this fall on the “Iceberg of Culture”?
Share as a group
WHAT IN THE
WORLD?!?
A CASE
STUDY OF
CULTURE
An American is attending church for the first
time in another country with her host family.
When she is informed that it is time to go to
church, she walks up the mountain with her
family. It’s mid-morning, so she expects church
will start at about 10:00 am. When she and her
family arrive, they join everyone else and all sit
outside around the church in the shade.
Everyone is talking and hanging out. An hour or
so passes, but there is no indication of when
church will begin. The American is a bit
confused about when church will begin. Finally,
she asks a person when the church service is
expected to begin. The person very matter-of-
factly answers, “When everyone gets here.”
WHAT IN
THE
WORLD?!?
A CASE
STUDY OF
CULTURE
An American volunteer on the tiny island of
Pohnpei in the Federated States of
Micronesia is often confused and offended.
Every time she walks past a person’s house –
even a complete stranger – the person says,
“Come and eat.” She isn’t sure how to
respond…
And every time she sees anyone, the person
asks, “Where are you going?” Sometimes
she is walking to the bathroom...She always
tells people where she is going, but she feels
her destination or what she is doing is no
one’s business. Although she thinks
Pohnpeians are very nice people, she feels
that they are a bit nosy.
CULTURE BUMPS
In your own words, what is a
Culture Bump?
Can you avoid them?
How do you handle them?
CULTURE BUMPS DEFINED
When encountering individuals from a culture other than our
own, we are inevitably faced with situations that are confusing,
upsetting, embarrassing or even offensive. Our assumptions,
expectations or “rules of behavior” conflict…These situations are
called
“CULTURE BUMPS
” because two cultures have
“bumped” into each other causing the exchange to be bumpy or
not smooth or comfortable.
WHAT IN THE
WORLD?!?
A CASE
STUDY OF
CULTURE
A newly arrived volunteer is working in another
country at a high school and has been assigned
as an advisor to the student government
organization along with a local man who has
been teaching at the school for for many years
and also serves as the vice principal. The new
volunteer suggests that they meet on Saturday
at 3:00 to discuss activities and plans for the
student government organization. She believes
that the vice principal agreed to the meeting.
On Saturday, the volunteer waits for the vice
principal at the appointed time and place, but
finally leaves at 4:30. When she asks the vice
principal about it on Monday, he tells her she
should know when “yes” means “yes” and “yes”
means “no.”
LOW-CONTEXT CULTURE VS. HIGH CONTEXT
In general, is America a Low-Context or High-Context culture?
LOW CONTEXT VS HIGH CONTEXT CULTURE
WHAT IN
THE
WORLD?!?
A CASE
STUDY OF
CULTURE
A girl who has just arrived in Kansas
City from Kenya is surprised at how
friendly everyone is! Everyone smiles
at her. At first, this seems very odd
to her, but she just assumes everyone
really likes her. She cannot believe
how many people want to be her
friend. She is disappointed three
weeks into being at her new
university because everyone smiles at
her and says “Hi”, but no one invites
her to their home nor engages her in
a meaningful conversation
.
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90% of communication is non-verbal, and 100% of non-verbal is culturally contextual.
Have you ever been confused by someone's non-verbal communication like gesture, tone of voice, touch etc?
CULTURE BUMPS: WHAT CAN WE DO?
Understand that body language and all non-verbal
communication are not universal
Do not react with anger
Try to give the person “the benefit of the doubt” and suspend
judgment
Ask for clarification
Observe
Remember intention is everything
Be willing to apologize
OUR
CULTURAL
VALUES
What belief/assumption does
each expression reflect or
highlight?
“Everyone smiles in the same
language.”
“You are color blind.”
“There is no such thing as a free
lunch.”
“Curiosity killed the cat.”
“The early bird catches the worm.”
OUR VALUES
What are some of your
values and how do you
show them?
For example, do you
value RESPECT?
How do you show
respect?
List a couple
OUR PERSONAL VALUES
What do you think:
A teacher commented that her ESL student seemed “to
always be hiding something…he seems so dishonest and
simply disrespectful.”
Can you guess what the student was doing?
What can you do if
your value
and
someone else's
value is the same
but
is contrary in how it is shown or
conveyed
?
WHAT OBSTRUCTS OUR UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER?
KNOWING what is true
KNOWING our way is the only way or at least the
only right way
Lack of awareness of our self and our own culture,
rules and expectations
Being sure
Our bias -- unconscious or even conscious bias
QT EXAMPLE -- Our thoughts prevent us from
hearing (or listening).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crAv5ttax2I
CREATING A
CULTURE OF
INCLUSIVENESS
Starts with each of us
Self-awareness
Believing that there may be
other ways…
Not being so sure…
Becoming aware of unconscious
bias
Being genuinely interested in
others and other ways (you
don’t have to change your ways)
Being inquisitive – asking “What
are your rules?”
Observing closely
Listening
ONE AND DONE?
Kimberly Connelly, an experienced international officer, presents insights into culture through her personal journey and the Iceberg Metaphor of Culture. She discusses Edward T. Hall's Cultural Iceberg Model, highlighting the hidden aspects of culture and the importance of actively engaging with different cultures to truly understand them. Join her on a deep dive into the complexities of cultural diversity and the need for open-minded interactions.
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Presentation Transcript
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS PRESENTS BUMP!!! A PRESENTATION ON CULTURE BY KIMBERLY CONNELLY, KUMC SENIOR INTERNATIONAL OFFICER AND DIRECTOR, OIP
ME AND MY DISCLAIMER Interest in culture began in grade school with Vietnamese family friends; Studied French in high school and college Spent my junior summer in Belgium; Lived on the tiny island of Pohnpei, the Federated States of Micronesia, 7 degrees above the equator (3,823 miles from KC to Hawaii and another 3,216 miles from Hawaii to Pohnpei); Married a Pohnpeian (now divorced and remarried). Taught ESL for 20 years and have had taught international students and worked with internationals from +/- 125 different countries. I am not an expert on any culture. I attempt to know myself, my rules and my expectations which are formed by my personal experiences starting with my family.
IN YOUR OWN WORDS, WHAT IS CULTURE?
EDWARD T. HALLS CULTURAL ICEBERG MODEL There are major differences between the conscious and unconscious culture. Edward T. Hall s Cultural Iceberg Model In 1976, Hall developed the iceberg analogy of culture. If the culture of a society was the iceberg, Hall reasoned, than there are some aspects visible, above the water, but there is a larger portion hidden beneath the surface. What does that mean? The external, or conscious, part of culture is what we can see and is the tip of the iceberg and includes behaviors and some beliefs. The internal, or subconscious, part of culture is below the surface of a society and includes some beliefs and the values and thought patterns that underlie behavior. Internal vs. External Internal: Implicitly Learned, Unconscious, Difficult to Change, Subjective Knowledge External: Explicitly Learned, Conscious, Easily Changed, Objective Knowledge
WE MUST TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW INDIVIDUALS FROM THAT CULTURE AND INTERACT WITH THEM. Hall suggests that the only way to learn the internal culture of others is to actively participate in their culture. When one first enters a new culture, only the most overt behaviors are apparent. As one spends more time in that new culture, the underlying beliefs, values, and thought patterns that dictate that behavior will be uncovered. What this model teaches us is that we cannot judge a new culture based only on what we see when we first enter it. We must take the time to get to know individuals from that culture and interact with them. Only by doing so can we uncover the values and beliefs that underlie the behavior of that society. Source: Beyond Culture (1976) by Edward T. Hall
NITZA HIDALGOS THREE LEVELS OF CULTURE Concrete: This is the most visible and tangible level of culture, and includes the most surface-level dimensions such as clothes, music, food, games, etc. These aspects of culture are often those which provide the focus for multicultural "festivals" or "celebrations." Behavioral: This level of culture clarifies how we define our social roles, the language we speak, and our approaches to nonverbal communication. The Behavioral level REFLECTS our values. Aspects to be listed in this category include language, gender roles, family structure, political affiliation, and other items that situation us organizationally in society. Symbolic: This level of culture includes our values and beliefs. It can be abstract, but it is most often the key to how individuals define themselves. It includes values systems, customs, spirituality, religion, worldview, beliefs, mores, etc.
CULTURE: ITS ALL ABOUT YOU SHARE about yourself What culture (group) or cultures (groups) do you belong to that form your world view, rules and expectations? Draw a symbol that represents your culture or an aspect of your culture. Share with a partner.
CULTURE BUMPS: CASE STUDIES Read Discuss/Analyze with a partner: What was your initial reaction? What does that reveal about your culture, rules and expectations? What are the possible rules, assumptions or cultural values that are in conflict? Where would this fall on the Iceberg of Culture ? Share as a group
An American is attending church for the first time in another country with her host family. When she is informed that it is time to go to church, she walks up the mountain with her family. It s mid-morning, so she expects church will start at about 10:00 am. When she and her family arrive, they join everyone else and all sit outside around the church in the shade. Everyone is talking and hanging out. An hour or so passes, but there is no indication of when church will begin. The American is a bit confused about when church will begin. Finally, she asks a person when the church service is expected to begin. The person very matter-of- factly answers, When everyone gets here. WHAT IN THE WORLD?!? A CASE STUDY OF CULTURE
An American volunteer on the tiny island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia is often confused and offended. Every time she walks past a person s house even a complete stranger the person says, Come and eat. She isn t sure how to respond And every time she sees anyone, the person asks, Where are you going? Sometimes she is walking to the bathroom...She always tells people where she is going, but she feels her destination or what she is doing is no one s business. Although she thinks Pohnpeians are very nice people, she feels that they are a bit nosy. WHAT IN THE WORLD?!? A CASE STUDY OF CULTURE
CULTURE BUMPS In your own words, what is a Culture Bump? Can you avoid them? How do you handle them?
CULTURE BUMPS DEFINED When encountering individuals from a culture other than our own, we are inevitably faced with situations that are confusing, upsetting, embarrassing or even offensive. Our assumptions, expectations or rules of behavior conflict These situations are called CULTURE BUMPS because two cultures have bumped into each other causing the exchange to be bumpy or not smooth or comfortable.
A newly arrived volunteer is working in another country at a high school and has been assigned as an advisor to the student government organization along with a local man who has been teaching at the school for for many years and also serves as the vice principal. The new volunteer suggests that they meet on Saturday at 3:00 to discuss activities and plans for the student government organization. She believes that the vice principal agreed to the meeting. On Saturday, the volunteer waits for the vice principal at the appointed time and place, but finally leaves at 4:30. When she asks the vice principal about it on Monday, he tells her she should know when yes means yes and yes means no. WHAT IN THE WORLD?!? A CASE STUDY OF CULTURE
LOW-CONTEXT CULTURE VS. HIGH CONTEXT In general, is America a Low-Context or High-Context culture?
LOW CONTEXT VS HIGH CONTEXT CULTURE High-Context Culture 1. Implicitly embeds meanings at different levels of the sociocultural context. 2. Values group sense. 3. Tends to take time to cultivate and establish a permanent personal relationship. 4. Emphasizes spiral logic. 5. Values indirect verbal interaction and is more able to read nonverbal expressions. 6. Tends to use more "feeling" in expression. Low-Context Culture (US) 1. Overtly displays meanings through direct communication forms. 2. Values individualism. 3. Tends to develop transitory personal relationship. 4. Emphasizes linear logic. 5. Values direct verbal interaction and is less able to read nonverbal expressions. 6. Tends to use "logic" to present ideas. 7. Tends to emphasize highly structured messages, give details, and place great stress on words and technical signs. 7. Tends to give simple, ambiguous, noncontexting messages.
WHAT IN THE WORLD?!? A CASE STUDY OF CULTURE A girl who has just arrived in Kansas City from Kenya is surprised at how friendly everyone is! Everyone smiles at her. At first, this seems very odd to her, but she just assumes everyone really likes her. She cannot believe how many people want to be her friend. She is disappointed three weeks into being at her new university because everyone smiles at her and says Hi , but no one invites her to their home nor engages her in a meaningful conversation.
What is non-verbal communication? Definition (CBC): nonverbal communication involves those nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting that are generated by both the source [speaker] and his or her use of the environment and that have potential message value for the source or receiver [listener] (Samovar et al). Basically it is sending and receiving messages in a variety of ways without the use of verbal codes (words). It is both intentional and unintentional. Most speakers / listeners are not conscious of this. It includes but is not limited to: touch glance eye contact (gaze) volume vocal nuance proximity gestures facial expression ? pause (silence) intonation dress posture smell word choice and syntax sounds (paralanguage) http://www2.andrews.edu/~tidwell/bsad560/NonVerbal.html 90% of communication is non-verbal, and 100% of non-verbal is culturally contextual. Have you ever been confused by someone's non-verbal communication like gesture, tone of voice, touch etc?
CULTURE BUMPS: WHAT CAN WE DO? Understand that body language and all non-verbal communication are not universal Do not react with anger Try to give the person the benefit of the doubt and suspend judgment Ask for clarification Observe Remember intention is everything Be willing to apologize
What belief/assumption does each expression reflect or highlight? Everyone smiles in the same language. OUR CULTURAL VALUES You are color blind. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Curiosity killed the cat. The early bird catches the worm.
What are some of your values and how do you show them? For example, do you value RESPECT? OUR VALUES How do you show respect? List a couple
OUR PERSONAL VALUES What do you think: A teacher commented that her ESL student seemed to always be hiding something he seems so dishonest and simply disrespectful. Can you guess what the student was doing? What can you do if your value and someone else's value is the same but is contrary in how it is shown or conveyed?
WHAT OBSTRUCTS OUR UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER? KNOWING what is true KNOWING our way is the only way or at least the only right way Lack of awareness of our self and our own culture, rules and expectations Being sure Our bias -- unconscious or even conscious bias QT EXAMPLE -- Our thoughts prevent us from hearing (or listening). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crAv5ttax2I
Starts with each of us Self-awareness Believing that there may be other ways CREATING A CULTURE OF INCLUSIVENESS Not being so sure Becoming aware of unconscious bias Being genuinely interested in others and other ways (you don t have to change your ways) Being inquisitive asking What are your rules? Observing closely Listening
