My High Context Culture

1. How can an understanding of the complexities of culture help us make sense of the day-to-day world which we live? Give an example from your life to illustrate your answer.

to allow people a piece of sanity and balance within their lifestyle. When it comes to culture

Is culture the reason behind why people perform their actions?In the short story “Everyday Use,” by alice walker, one of the daughters denies her culture. In the essay “An Indian Father’s Plea,” by Robert Lake, the other students and teacher makes fun of the son, Wind-Wolf. In the Novel excerpt “Two Kinds,” by Amy tan, Jing-mei’s mother expects her daughter to keep to her mother’s perspective of culture. Culture influences people’s views on life.

Context assessment is about an environment where learning takes place and the adequacy of existing materials. According to author Reiser , R, & Dempsey, J. (2012) “CIPP is defined as context, input, process, and product. Context assessment of the learning environment where a program or innovation is used to establish the objectives and needs for the program, also identifying factors of the environment in which may impact the usage of being successful. Within the needs of assessment of making the program it is used in planning decisions.” Reiser , R, & Dempsey, J. (2012) I am always using materials supporting goals for my students providing school readiness. The author Reiser , R, & Dempsey, J. (2012)states, “input is another

The culture that I best identify as is the American culture. The aspects of this culture that shaped my personality is the music, growing up listening to modernized genres of Rap hip-hop, pop, and soft rock music. Another aspect that shapes my personality is food I eat from my culture. Being an African-American, my cultural foods that I grew up eating was known as ‘soul food’, which included: cornbread, black eye peas, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and fried chicken. In addition, the banal foods within my cultural society also contributed to my personality, such as, pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs, and other common foods. In addition, my cultural religion also contributes to my society, I grew up in a Christianity background where my grandmother would constantly read and teach me the bible and its lawful commandments to abide by. This aspect significantly shaped my personality.

Today, the United States is the largest economic and military power in the world, the political freedom and education level of the people are universally acknowledged to be among the top 3 in the world; so, what kind of American spirit has shaped the United States?

In the article Hall’s cultural factors America is described as a low context culture where very little is taken for granted and there is less of a chance of having a misunderstanding when visitors are present (Hall’s, p 1.). Hall also describes in a low context culture such as America messages are simple and clear, people blame others for failure, there is more focus on verbal communication rather than body language, reactions are visible, flexibility is present when change is needed, bonds between people are fragile with little loyalty, task are more important than relationships, and time is not flexible (Hall, p1). I agree with Hall’s views about America being a low context culture. I think the messages American’s want to get across to others are clear. I also have seen many situations where people blame others for their failure and I know I have blamed someone else for my mistake. I also know that people listen and body language is not as important as the actual words that are being communicated. I have been in relationships where strong bonds are broken over something silly. I also know time is very important to Americans and it seems everyone is always busy and schedules are not very flexible. I can think of an example for all of Hall’s descriptions of America being a low context culture and that is why I think I am “in line” with general views about

As the airplane ascends towards its cruising altitude, I look out the window as the thrusters propel the plane towards the ocean. It is July, but the cabin is cold, and the hairs on my arms stand up in unison. The smells of fifty colognes and air freshener overtake my senses. To my left is the concrete jungle I have inhabited during half of my life. To my right a vast blue expanse that leads to España. I feel that I am in limbo, neither in the United States or España. As every summer and Christmas approaches, the feeling never changes. This year marks half of my life spent in the States, and I can’t help but ask myself: Am I going home, or am I leaving it?

The first five things that come to mind that have affected my personal culture are family background, religious affiliation, language, ethnicity, and friends. I come from a family with both parents and several siblings. Everyone in my family is Christian, all of them having grown up in the church, typically Nazarene. My entire family is made of Caucasian, native English speakers. Because of that, most of my friends are also native English speakers and all Christian.

Following this argument, Hall builds the differentiation between High Context and Low Context cultures using some characteristics which could be divided in:

Diversity is a very significant part of my life, so to hear that Wellesley celebrates women of all different cultural backgrounds is one the biggest attractions that Wellesley has to offer for me. As a woman who comes from a family that consists two different languages and multiple minority races, it is often hard for me to feel represented and included, let alone celebrated. For many people, when they hear the word “diversity” they envision only a group of minorities. For myself, diversity is not just about including those with brown skin, it is about the exchange of all cultures and ideas. From political views, to language, to food, to pop culture, the exchange of these ideas makes for a diverse community and it is clear to me that Wellesley represents this idea of sharing experiences. I much as I love when I see faces that look like mine, I am equally thrilled when I encounter an opportunity to learn about someone else’s

In various societies across the globe, culture is normally seen as an enabling or limiting factor for social, political and economic progression. Through this understanding it has been established that there is a strong relationship between class and culture. This relationship has been previously investigated by researchers such as Pierre Bourdieu who identified that class affects culture and consequently, culture affects ones life chances, income and other economic parameters (Lane 2000, p. 1). Many other researchers have often voiced their concerns over the increased gap between the rich and the poor (worldwide) and expressed their concern over the fact that the world has failed to acknowledge the role of culture in

Cultural paradigms make up a person’s identity, beliefs, values, and behavior. The paradigms tell us how human existence works, what is possible and impossible, what the rules are, and how things are done, shaping an individual’s reality. People are emotionally committed to their paradigms and give up or change them with great difficulty (Diller, 2015). “It is learned as part of the natural process of growing up in a family and community and from participating in societal institutions” (Diller, 2015, p. 93).

I am enjoying the class so far and like the fact that some of my classmates are willing to openly express their opinions of the readings, both positive and negative. Taseem brings a cultural perspective she is willing to share. Even when others do not share, there is knowledge to be gained, as it drives my curiosity to understand those who are different than me.

After viewing the video, I had never thought about defining my culture or interpreting the culture of others from concrete, behavioral, or symbolic perception. At this point in my life, I would define myself as an individual who incorporates a mixture of concrete and symbolic gestures to define myself culturally. When I initially meet an individual, I typically interpret their culture by their appearance or behavior. It is not until I have the opportunity to get to know them on a more personal level that I may get to know their belief systems or values.