Intercultural Factors : Multicultural Challenges

There are several different positive and unique aspects of intercultural relationships. Intercultural relationships allow individuals to understand other people of different cultures, ethnicities, gender and etc. It is interesting understanding other peoples beliefs as well as how they have lived there life’s. A positive aspect of intercultural relationships is the difference between the two people. I think it is interesting learning how other people think and how they were brought up. When you are in an intercultural relationship you get to understand how that person feels about certain situations that they have been through. You get to learn who that person truly is.

Productivity in the new culture is experienced to an extremely positive extent. Business dealings and negotiations become secondary nature to the expatriate, and the expatriate’s journey becomes a great success in the perspective of their employing company.

My multicultural experiential project consisted of attending multicultural presentations at IVCC and interviewing people of different backgrounds on their experiences with discrimination, with a focus on educational settings in particular. I attended two events in interviewed five people (some for two hours, some for only one), this work totaling in ten hours.

I have now a greater understanding of what it means to be a world Christian. Not only that, but I have formed a new love, concern, and awareness for the outreach of the unengaged and unreached people of the world. The importance of reaching every man, woman, and child and presenting the gospel has been and is today the least important task on the church’s agenda. While my major is Pastoral Leadership I know Gods global purpose includes me at home or abroad. Right now I do not have a calling outside of America. Though I have learned that there are many opportunities for myself to reach out to foreign people groups and different cultures without leaving my own state.

Cultural awareness: having an understanding and appreciation for different cultures as well as your own. Being culturally aware allows you gain more insight and increases your knowledge on the way of life in other countries. You get a different perspective and a better appreciation for other cultures thereby eliminating close-mindedness. (San Diego State University, n.d.)

Orientation to Knowledge- The terms people use to explain themselves and the world around them

1. What do you think of when you hear "Multicultural Psychology"? I realize that this is a required class -- but what are some of your thoughts, expectations, hesitations and/or goals about this class?

In their paper, “Increasing Intercultural Competence and Tolerance in Multicultural Schools: A Training Program and Its Effectiveness,” Lebedeva, Makarova, and Tatarko (2013) discuss the Training of Intercultural Competence and Tolerance (TICT) program that was developed as a measure for preventing interethnic conflicts that were prevalent in the North Caucasus Federal District of Russia. In the paper, the authors examine the motives for developing the training program, the structure of the program, and the outcome of implementing the program.

In, this paper I attempt to connect the Intergroup and Intercultural Education (IGIC) to teacher’s practices and use it as an analytic tool for understanding how students could spend more time in the classroom and less time in alternative placement programs. I will begin with defining IGIC education, and alternative placement programs, then transiting into the connecting factors to the rates of alternative placement programs. I will be highlighting a number of opinion leaders whose work reflects the ongoing conversation about this issue. Following up my review of these scholars, I will be highlighting my own experiences and expertise in the field. I will conclude by explaining the implications and exploring the options that would bridge the gap between the issue and what needs to be done going forward.

The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) is an assessment that examines an individual’s intercultural competence (Hammer, Bennett, & Wiseman, 2003). Bennett (2004) describes intercultural competence as one’s place on a continuum from ethnocentric to ethnorelativism. As I understand it, the IDI and intercultural competence are examining an individual’s ability to understand and accept other cultures. The IDI measures intercultural competence on a continuum that includes five stages that a person can vacillate between, which include denial, defense, minimization, acceptance, and adaptation (Bennett, 2004; Hammer et al., 2003). Moreover, Bennett (2004) indicates that the denial stage is when an individual is very ethnocentric, believes

As well as Reed, Schlesinger describes America as a nation made up of different cultures and ethnicities. "We have always been a multiethnic country" , writes the author. He also traces back the creation and evolution of the American culture, and estimates the present contradictory character of it. Both authors speak in unison about the uniqueness of American culture. Schlesinger quotes the French author of the 18th century who said: "Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men." If Reed describes blurring of cultural styles in America as "a cultural bouillabaisse", Schlesinger names it "The melting pot" . Moreover, Schlesinger admits the healthy consequences of new immigrations laws. He is against racism and discrimination of minorities and salutes the recognition of achievements of those groups, which were subordinated "during the high noon of Anglo dominance."

There are many things in life that influence our development in some shape or form. Whether in a positive or negative way, influence is something that surrounds us, our children and family and may determine the way we develop. We are all prone to influences in our environment. Although there are many factors that influence us, one specific example are the sociocultural factors we are surrounded by in our everyday lives. This paper will be discussing the strengths and weaknesses in the sociocultural environment that influence both children and families.

Cultural diversity is the power which motivates the development of the thing that makes us different. Cultural diversity is the economic growth, which means leading a more fulfilling emotional, moral and spiritual life. It captures the culture principles, which provide a sturdy basis for the promotion of cultural diversity. Cultural diversity is an asset that is necessary for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development. Cultural diversity, communication and barriers to effective communication works hand in hand. Barriers of effective communication

For my first Intercultural Awareness activity, I chose to listen to the BBC World Report every day for a week. I listened to BBC from September 7 through September 13. I listened to an hour report each day, culminating in 7 hours of intercultural awareness. Because of the lengths of the podcasts, I chose to focus on the main issue that was presented in the podcast.

According to Warren & Adler(1977) that intercultural training can be regarded as constructed programs, projects as well as activities, which enable people to have effective interactions in unfamiliar cultures. The intercultural training programmes are designed with varied methodological approaches, in order to raise sojourners’ cultural understanding and increase their cultural competence (Warren & Adler, 1977). And the training can bring cognitive, affective and behavior changes to learners (Gannon & Poon, 1997).