Section: Understanding our Cultural Baggage | Playground - Jason Baxter | University of Edinburgh Moodle

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  • Welcome to Intercultural Communications

    Intercultural Communication focuses on the importance of culture in our everyday lives, and the ways in which culture interrelates with and effects communication processes. We live in an era of rapid globalization in which being able to communicate across cultures is imperative to our ability to function in a diverse workplace, city, and world. Using our stories and our online discussions, this course is designed to increase our sensitivity to other cultures by understanding the frameworks of culture. This course will increase our awareness of our own cultural backgrounds, and the contexts in which we live and communicate. 

    The course objectives are as follows:

    • To explore cultural self-awareness, and the dynamics that arise in interactions between differing cultures.
    • To identify challenges that arises from these differences in intercultural interactions and learns ways to creatively address them.
    • To acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes that increase intercultural competence 
Cultural Stereotypes and Generalizations in Communications

Understanding our Cultural Baggage

  • Understanding our Cultural Baggage

    Tutor: Jason Baxter

    When interacting between cultures, it is common to let our "cultural baggage" construct what the other person might perceive who we are.  In fact, most of us are unaware that our habits, norms, and daily-life routines are formed by our culture and thus can lead people to act in ways that might not be perceived well by other cultures.  

    Activity:

    To begin this week's module, please read the two scenarios and identify why the interaction might be misconstrued by either culture?

    Learning Objectives:

    • Define and identify what is your personal 'cultural baggage.'
    • Determine with your colleagues how cultural baggage plays a role in our daily routine.
    • Evaluate how cultural baggage influences your perception, beliefs, and values.

    Weekly Blog Entry: 

    Based on the definitions of culture baggage given in the reading try to write your own definition of culture. 

Cultural Stereotypes and Generalizations in Communications