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Being Bicultural: The Not-So-Good Parts

2/22/2019

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Most of what we hear about multiculturalism and biculturalism is positive, and there are many benefits to each. However, there are some parts of being bicultural that provide difficult decisions for individuals who are so gifted. For instance, how should children be raised, what language should be used in the home, and which best prepares the child for continued education?
 
Many factors must be weighed in decisions like these, but the difficulties of bicultural parenting become apparent quickly. For instance, if one culture is a high-context culture (see the recent blog on this topic), it will be almost impossible for a child to assimilate into that culture if he or she was not raised in it. Many of the Chinese scholars who come to the U.S. with a family face this issue. Their children will face difficulty re-assimilating back into Chinese culture without the years of “context learning” normal Chinese children experience at home.
 
There is a wonderful conversation that the father has with his daughter in the movie “Selena” about the need to be 100% competent in both U.S. and Mexican cultures. Selena was the Tejano singer who was enormously popular in both countries. The cultural competency factor is what is critical. There are two main issues—one relates to how the communicative abilities of the individual influences their intellectual development. The other has to do with how the individual’s perception of their own ability influences their state of mind.
 
International students coming to the U.S. to study often have somewhat limited language skills despite years of learning. This can impact their perception of their ability to learn the content of their university classes. Such a perception can negatively impact their experience here in the U.S.
 
Our relationship with international students gives us a great opportunity to encourage them. Many of the student’s perceptions might be influenced by the encouragement we give them about the adequacy of their language skills and the fact that they are so intelligent to be able to risk achieving a college degree is a second language. Could we do that? We need to appreciate and compliment their courage to attempt such a venture!
 
Being available as a cultural interpreter is also an important role for us as American friends. When our student friends feel free to ask any question of us, then we are a tremendous asset to them.
 
Principles cited in this blog: Students are often critical of their language skills, and that critical view can affect their perceptions of their ability to learn in class (despite their superior intellects). Parents of bicultural children face many difficult decisions about issues of competency and how to achieve it for their children.
 
Application for ISI ministry:  What we say to our international student friends can make a difference in their perception of their competency and progress. Our willingness to be available for any question at any time is an important role of a friend.
 
Next blog topic: Report on the returnee event recently held in Asia.

Doug Shaw with Derrah Jackson


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Being Bicultural: The Good Parts

2/13/2019

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We hear so much today about the importance and benefits of being multicultural. It is a strength of our nation, and the leadership of every university campus desires their university to be more multicultural for the benefit of all the students who study there. One could extrapolate that it is good to be bicultural.
 
If you live in the southern part of our nation, it is very helpful to speak both English and Spanish! Understanding the language gives you insight into how the culture makes sense out of events and circumstances. It allows you not only to understand things from the frame of that culture, but it also allows you to project/predict responses to unforeseen circumstances that may occur.
 
Speaking both languages allows you to feel “at home” in circumstances where either language is being spoken. You can understand and interact as needed. At times you may be called upon to help someone who is not fluent in the language of the moment. It feels good to be able to help folks who feel left out.
 
All of the international students on U.S. campuses are at least bi-lingual and many are tri-lingual … with some quadra-lingual or more! The Dallas Texas Sheriff’s Office has an officer who speaks parts of 23 different languages. He is always in demand!
 
Someone has said that a person really does not understand their own culture until they learn the language and culture of another ethnic group. The second cultural understanding provides tremendous perspective to evaluate one’s primary culture against. Since most of culture is tacit (unconscious), we may not even realize that we hold a particular value until it is challenged or threatened by another competing value.
 
Take time with your international student friends to talk about values and why they are important to each of you. In the process your relationship will improve, and you will learn to appreciate another perspective or value.
 
Principles cited in this blog: Many values are unknown until compared with another competing value. Learning another language and the attendant culture can be very enriching personally and professionally.
 
Application for ISI ministry:  Discussing values with your international student friends can be very informative and personally enriching, plus it builds mutual understanding and relationship.  
 
Next blog topic: Becoming Bicultural: The Not-So-Good Parts
 
Doug Shaw with Derrah Jackson

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The Space Factor

2/7/2019

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Previously, we looked at Edward T. Hall’s time and context cultural factors. Today, the focus is on the space factor. Personal space (what we feel we need around us in terms of people not encroaching on what we deem personal) is what immediately comes to mind. An American on a crowded bus in Beijing will feel very violated in terms of personal space by how many people are touching him on his body on the bus. Hall said that personal space was a mobile form of territoriality.
 
Students sometime find American’s personal space funny. They will keep getting closer and closer to the American while speaking with him and watch him keep backing away to create more space in between them.
 
But space issues also are evidenced in living quarters. Americans seem to need ever more space in their homes, while many Asian countries require much less in their living quarters.
 
Some people are more territorial and seem to mark out their space with boundaries. Territoriality may be manifest with issues of ownership. People with high territoriality also seem to be low context (see last week’s blog for more on context). Low territoriality people tend to share better and appear more generous. They may share their living quarters more easily and have less concern about ownership. Low territoriality people tend to be high context also.
 
Many of the students who come to the U.S. to study come from low territoriality cultures. We can help them understand why Americans seem to require so much more space and have such firm boundaries. It will help them adjust more quickly to living in this context.
 
Principles cited in this blog: We all have to learn sensitivity to other people’s cultural background, especially when it comes to the space factor in cultures.
 
Application for ISI ministry:  One way we can help students is to help them see the need to understand the cultural context of others when it is very different from what one was raised with.
 
Next blog topic: Becoming Bi-cultural – the Good Parts
 
Doug Shaw with Derrah Jackson

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The Context Factor

2/1/2019

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Last week we looked at time—one of Edward T. Hall’s cultural factors. This week we will look at the factor of context. The following week we will look at the space factor.
 
In a high context culture (like in China), many elements of context must be taken into account to know how to respond appropriately (know the “rules” of the culture). Much is assumed and taken for granted. This is confusing to a person from a low context culture.
 
Low context cultures typically have very direct expressions of what is required in a particular situation. That is required is all situations which are similar. There is much less chance of misunderstanding. Social rules are social rules first, last and always.
 
In situations where people speed around and are very busy, low context communication is needed to explain the details one needs to know. Americans are more typically low context people because of the significant mobility of their culture. Below is a chart Hall used.


Again, sensitivity to other ways people function is important to good relationships. Friendship Partners need to learn how to help students from high context cultures better understand how to function in a different cultural context.
 
Principles cited in this blog: We all have to learn sensitivity to other people’s cultural background, especially when it comes to the context factor in culture.
 
Application for ISI ministry:  One way we can help students is to help them see the need to understand the cultural context of others when it is very different from what one was raised with.
 
Next blog topic:  Cultures: The Space Factor
 
Doug Shaw with Derrah Jackson



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