COMM 4001 Week 6 Your Intercultural Competence Journey: Final Reflection
COMM 4001 Week 6 Your Intercultural Competence Journey: Final Reflection
After completing this course, I have noticed a significant improvement in my intercultural competence, particularly in the area of cultural awareness. I have come to realize that as a society, we tend to be trapped in our own cultural silos, and it is crucial to step outside of our comfort zone to understand and appreciate other cultures and the world around us.
Cultural awareness refers to one’s ability to recognize and comprehend the distinctions between oneself and individuals from different backgrounds, including differences in attitudes and values.
Furthermore, I have also gained knowledge about acculturation, convergence, and divergence. Although I was already familiar with these concepts, I did not know the technical terms associated with them.
COMM 4001 Week 6 Your Intercultural Competence Journey: Final Reflection
Through this course, I have seen how people adjust their cultural practices by adopting or borrowing traits from other cultures, or by choosing to remain loyal to their native culture. Additionally, people may acculturate to varying degrees and not fully embrace the new culture they are exposed to.
However, I still need to work on my implicit bias. I have realized that my past experiences have led me to develop prejudicial biases, which can be challenging to overcome. Sometimes, it is an automatic response that occurs instinctively, and it is not easy to let go of these biases.
I have judged people based on their age, gender, and ability in the past. But by identifying and analyzing my own biases, I have begun to work on this issue. Awareness is key, and once we recognize our biases, we are responsible for taking proactive steps to be more inclusive and not discriminate against others. As a person of color who has experienced discrimination, I know how it feels and do not want to offend anyone else.
COMM 4001 Week 6 Your Intercultural Competence Journey: Final Reflection
Implicit biases arise when we are unaware of or have misconceptions about our thoughts and feelings. A bias occurs when we have a preference or aversion towards a particular person or group of people, rather than remaining neutral.
This term “implicit bias” is frequently used to describe attitudes or stereotypes that we associate with people without conscious awareness. For example, studies have shown that white people often unconsciously associate criminality with black people.
In my opinion, the most significant takeaways from the Cultural Competence Self-Assessment Checklist are valuing diversity, self-awareness, and questioning my assumptions. I believe that diversity is essential, and adding different cultural perspectives can enhance our society.
COMM 4001 Week 6 Your Intercultural Competence Journey: Final Reflection
I think that every culture has something valuable to offer, and it is essential to appreciate these differences. Knowing myself and my own cultural values and beliefs is critical in understanding how I relate to others from different cultures. I have also learned that checking my assumptions is vital in cultivating an open-minded perspective and treating every individual with respect.
In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed this course, and I learned a lot about intercultural competence. The instructor’s guidance, engagement, and reminders were extremely helpful, and I appreciate everything that I have learned. Thank you!
Reference
Cultural awareness definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary. (2022, April
1).CollinsDictionaries.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/cultural-awareness
PerceptionInstitute.(2017,May17).ImplicitBiasExplained.
