Welcoming. Connecting. Belonging.
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
Customs and Beliefs
presented by
SASKATOON OPEN DOOR SOCIETYCULTURAL BRIDGING PROGRAM
This program is supported by
Welcoming. Connecting. Belonging.
Welcoming. Connecting. Belonging.
OUTLINE
Understanding Culture
Immigrants in Canada
Beyond The Surface
Intercultural Communication
Beliefs and Customs
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Welcoming. Connecting. Belonging.
What is culture? How do you define culture? What is culture to you?
Where does culture come from? Where do you learn culture?
Why does it matter?What is its value?
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“refers to shared patterns of learned behaviors and values
that are transmitted over time, and that distinguish the
members of the one group from another. In this broad
sense culture can include: ethnicity, language, religion and
spiritual beliefs, gender, socio-economic class, age, sexual
orientation, geographic origin, group history, education,
upbringing and life experiences”The Canadian Nurse Association (2004)
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Welcoming. Connecting. Belonging.
Exploring Perspectives
“What is required goes beyond mere tolerance or sympathy or sensitivity – emotions which can
offer be willed into existence by a generous soul.
True cultural sensitivity is something far more rigorous and even more intellectual than that. It
implies readiness to study and learn across cultural barriers, an ability to see others as they
see themselves.”H H Aga Khan
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Diversity & Differences
We interpret what we see, but actual
meaning maybe different
Does not mean we need to change
our culture and adapt to another one
Sense of awareness that things may
be different for different people
Refrain from judging too quickly
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NEWCOMERS ARE FROM…
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Visit
SUPERVISAs
TOURIST
VISITORS VISA
Work Temporarily
TEMPORARY FOREIGN
WORKERS:
OPEN WORK PERMIT &
RESTRICTED WORK PERMIT
Study
90,000 students come to Canada
to study
UNDERGRADPOST-GRADTECHINICAL
ESL
Refugee
Refugee & Humanitarian Resettlement
ASYLUM
Immigrate
SKILLED PROFESSIONALS
CANADIAN EXPERIENCE
CLASS
INVESTORS, ENTREPRENEURS, SELF EMPLOYED
PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM
SPONSORING A FAMILY
IMMIGRATION CATEGORY
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Culture`s Link with Communications
``Language carries culture, and culture carries, particularly through orature and literature, the entire body of values by which we come to
perceive ourselves and our place in the world`` (Ngugi 1986, Intercultural Communication: page 15-16)
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• Everyone who looks or sounds the same IS the
same
• Everyone who looks or sounds like us IS usCultural Competence Workshop for Service Providers in York Region, presented by Gloria
Murant and Douglas Stewart on April 28, 2003, Newmarket, ON
Assumptions
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Stereotypes and its consequences
Stereotypes can lead to views about others that
are typically:
• Rigid• Simplistic• Overgeneralized• negative or
unfavourable
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Something to think about
“In any intercultural encounter, there
is always a temptation to feel that
the others have bad character or
bad intentions, rather than to
realize that they are acting
according to different rules.”
(Hofstede, Pedersen & Hofstede)
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Intercultural Communication
Intercultural
communication
increases our
understanding about
other cultures and it is
an effective way to
make our world a better
place
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Cultural Patterns
High context vs Low context
Individualism vs Collectivism
Power Distance
Uncertainty Avoidance
Conceptual categories are useful for understanding cultural differences:
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High Context vs Low Context
• Covert and Implicit
• Messages internalised
• Much non-verbal coding
• Reactions reserved
• Distinct ingroups and
outgroups
• Strong Interpersonal bonds
• Commitment high
• Time open and flexible
• Overt and explicit
• Messages plainly coded
• Details verbalised
• Reactions on the surface
• Flexible ingroups and
outgroups
• Fragile Interpersonal bonds
• Commitment low
• Time highly organised
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High Context vs Low Context
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Variables in Intercultural Communications
•Monochrome
•Polychrome
Time
•Informal
•Formal
Sense of self and space
•Men vs Women
•Titles
Roles and Status
•Quick decisions, little details
•Very detailed – trust first
Decision Making Customs
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•Material wealth
•Efficiency
•Politeness
Social Values•Bribes•CustomLegal and Ethical
Behaviors
•Achievement, wealth, assertiveness
•Relationship, quality of life
Masculine vs. Feminine
•Individual
•Group
Achievements
Continued…
Variables in Intercultural Communications
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Intercultural CommunicationSlow Down (Tone, Volume, Speed)
Separate QuestionsAvoid Negative Questions
Take TurnsBe Supportive
Check MeaningsAvoid Slangs
Naming Systems
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Cultural Beliefs and Superstitions in Housing
Common Chinese Beliefs and Superstitions:1. Numbers 4 and 82. Arched or T-shaped roads3. Front Door should not open directly opposite the
back door4. Staircase should not lead straight out the front
door.5. Entrance to the home should be on the left side of
the house with a curved path and no obstructions.
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Common Beliefs and Superstitions in IndiaIndians typically follow Vastu shastra when building a home.
Cultural Beliefs and Superstitions in Housing
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Cultural Beliefs and Superstitions in Housing
• Things To Keep In Mind When Constructing A House:•
The very first brick of a foundation must be laid in the eastern or northern part of the house.• When digging the plot one must never start from the west, south or southwest direction.• The very first room has to be constructed at southwest side.• Construction of houses on a square or rectangular plot is extremely important and excellent
from every aspect. However, if one opts for a rectangular shape, the proportion of the sides must never be more than two ratio one.
• Bigger sized plots are more favorable, as they tend to bring wealth. But they must not contain cleavages, or cracks.
• The house must always be open from every side, this means it must never be contiguous to any other building (two houses must never have a common wall). Also, a house must never be crammed between two houses.
• Plots with triangular shapes are extremely inauspicious.• A small plot sandwiched between two bigger plots is inauspicious, and the owner of such a
plot can undergo a lot of problem.
• http://www.vaastushaastra.com/vastuforhousestructure.html
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Cultural Beliefs and Superstitions in Housing
Housing Superstitions in the Philippines1. A sunken living room brings bad luck and sickness to the
house.2. Doors that face west will bring quarrels, disease and death
in the family.3. It is imperative that a house faces east where the sun rises
to guarantee prosperity.4. Doors should always be on the right side of the house and
the stairs should always turn to the right.5. Doors should not be built facing each other.6. Numbers 7, 11 and 13.
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Cultural Beliefs and Superstitions in Housing
Other Cultural Beliefs and SuperstitionsLighting:In many Eastern cultures, it is important to have
a chandelier or suspended light in the living room of the home to represent the sun.
Bathrooms:In many cultures, having a powder room off the
kitchen or living room is considered offensive.
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Walk in the other person’s shoes
“Hospitality is the art of making people feel
special always” Francis Brenna, Hotelier
• Integrity & Relationship
• Little things make a difference
• Educating the client during the process
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OUR DIFFERENCES MAKE US UNIQUE
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REFERENCESBrick, J 1991, China: A Handbook in Intercultural Communication, National Center for English language Teaching and Research, Macquarie University, Sydney. Chaney, L H & Martin, J S 2003, Intercultural Business Communication, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. Cutler, J 2005, The Cross-Cutural Trainer’s Manual – Volume 2: Activities for Cross-Cultural Training, Gower Publishing Ltd, Aldershot, UK. Elder, B 1994, Communication Skills, Macmillan Education Australia, South Yarra. Guirdham, M 2005, Communicating Across Cultures at Work, Palgrave Macmillan Ltd, Basingstoke, UK. Hermans, J & Pusch, M D 2004, ‘Culture Matters’, European Association for International Education (EAIE) Occasional Paper 16. Jandt, F E 2001, Intercultural Communication: An Introduction, Sage Publications, California. Jandt, F E 2007, (5th ed.) Intercultural Communication: An Introduction, Sage Publications, California. Lustig, M W & Koester, J 2006, Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures, Pearson Education Inc., Boston. Martin, J N & Nakayama, T K 2001, Experiencing Intercultural Communication: An Introduction, Mayfield Publishing Company, Mountain View, California. Mohan, T, McGregor, H, Saunders, S & Archee, R 2004, Communicating as Professionals, Nelson Australia Pty Ltd. Neuliep, J W 2006, Intercultural communication: A contextual approach, Sage Publications, California.Peterson, B 2004, Cultural Intelligence: A Guide to Working with People from Other Countries, Intercultural Press, Yarmouth, Maine. Reynolds, S & Valentine, D 2004, Guide to cross-cultural communication, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J. Sabath, A M 1999, International Business Etiquette: Asia & The Pacific Rim, Career Press, New Jersey. Spencer-Oatey, H 2006, Introduction: What is Culture?, viewed 9 March 2007, < http://209.15.42.137/ic.org.uk/publications/culture.pdf>. Taylor, O L 1987, Cross-Cultural Communication: An Essential Dimension of Effective Education, viewed 9 March 2007, <http://www.maec.org/cross/3.html>.
Tuleja, E A 2005, Intercultural Communication for Business, Managerial Communication Series, J S O’Rourke (ed), Thomson South-Western.
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Thank you for your time!
This presentation is supported by