Module 3
Reflecting on cultural identity and our values and beliefs
In this module we’re going to delve more deeply into our beliefs, values and worldview; all of which are influenced by our origin stories and life experiences. Sometimes it can be hard to identify our own values and beliefs until we meet someone with ones that differ from our own. The times when we feel uncomfortable, confused, or even sometimes angry, are occasions when the invisible boundaries of our worldview bump up against someone else’s. These are wonderful opportunities for self-reflection and for digging deeper into who we are. Some good questions to ask ourselves:
- What human qualities do I value? Why? What has influenced my preferences?
- What are my beliefs (e.g., how to behave with family, strangers, at school, at work)?
- In what ways do I follow the ‘norms’ of my family / cultural background and in what ways do I make different choices? Why?
Required Activities
Read
- Using the handout called Identities of the Self (https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:548f60a0-d9ed-4c65-b631-052eb72e2891) name identities that you were born as (e.g. gender, sexuality, race, ability/disability) or that you were born into and lived within for most of your life (e.g. culture, family size/type, your place in the family, socioeconomic class, rural or urban upbringing, religion), and choose one that may play a role during a study abroad experience. Describe or illustrate, with examples and stories, 1 major value, trait or theme originating from this identity. (You may write a story, or any type of metaphoric expression for this exploration.)
For example, students in the past have told stories of relationships (value) to talk about homosexuality (identity), or stories about the importance of diversity (value) as a non white person (identity), have described cultural symbols/flags (theme) to explore racial culture (identity), have made collages of family photos (identity) to describe their position within it (trait).
Reflect
- Reflect on how this identity and its manifestation in values, traits or themes influence how you will adapt to your study abroad experience, how this may affect the way you interpret or work with others. (You may write a story, or any type of metaphoric expression for this exploration.)
For example, as a non white person (identity), having developed an acute sense of respect and empathy for any type of human ways of being (value), how would I react, while abroad, to a culture where, for instance, gender equality is not respected?
- Reflect, using your preferred method of reflection for this topic:
- What ‘single story’ have you been telling about yourself? What ‘single story’ have others created for you?
- How might you reframe that story’?
Watch
- Watch the following TED Talk:
Optional Activities
Read
- Identity – “Faces” by Heather Frazier – https://www.storycenter.org/stories
- Post your reflections (on Blackboard for NIC) – use the questions above to help guide your thoughts. You do not need to answer all or any of them but you can if you wish
Engagement
Asynchronous Engagement
- Read the handout summary from Teaching across cultural strengths, pp. 8-9 (Cultural Frameworks in Teaching and Learning Model) – Reflective Interlude to reflect (e.g., ‘see where you are on the continuum as a learner, reflect on your learning experiences etc.) – https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:395eb65a-b252-4acd-83c7-158d9b304cd4
- Identify where you are as a learner along the continuum of individual versus integrated.
- Using the link to the Google Doc provided, identify 3 ways in which your way of learning may influence your experiences in a study abroad / intercultural exchange experience? How might what you have learnt about other aspects of your identity shape your overseas experiences? Read the ideas posted by your peers.
- Using your preferred method of reflection, reflect on what you have learnt in this module and from the ideas expressed by your peers on the Google Doc.
- Post ONE idea / thought that you are willing to share to the discussion board (this can be written, or through a video / audio file if you prefer, or a photo)
Synchronous Engagement
- Before the ‘live session,’ read the handout summary from Teaching across cultural strengths, pp. 8-9 (Cultural Frameworks in Teaching and Learning Model) – Reflective Interlude to reflect (e.g., ‘see where you are on the continuum as a learner, reflect on your learning experiences etc.) – https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:395eb65a-b252-4acd-83c7-158d9b304cd4
- Identify where you are as a learner along the continuum of individual versus integrated.
- Come to class prepared to share your ideas on what kind of learner you are (can you think of what influenced your learning preferences?) and to discuss how these preferences might show in a study abroad / international exchange experience? How might what you have learnt about other aspects of your identity shape your overseas experiences?
- After the ‘live session’, post ONE thought / idea in your preferred method, to the discussion board