Culturally Competent Culturally Competent Extension EducatorsExtension Educators

Dallas L. Holmes, USU ExtensionDallas L. Holmes, USU Extension

Adapted from Lisa A. Guion and Kay Brown, Adapted from Lisa A. Guion and Kay Brown,

Florida State University Cooperative Extension, 2005.Florida State University Cooperative Extension, 2005.

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

Knowledge ofKnowledge of HistoryHistory CultureCulture TraditionsTraditions CustomsCustoms LanguageLanguage DialectDialect ValuesValues Religious or Spiritual Religious or Spiritual

BeliefsBeliefs

ArtArt MusicMusic Learning StylesLearning Styles Practices of IndividualsPractices of Individuals RolesRoles Family HierarchiesFamily Hierarchies Expressions of Expressions of

politenesspoliteness Communication Communication

patternspatterns

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

““Respecting and Respecting and learning about learning about cultureculture promotes a promotes a focus on the positive focus on the positive characteristics and characteristics and strengths of a strengths of a community and the community and the individuals that reside individuals that reside within it.”within it.”

• Okun, Fried, & Okun, Okun, Fried, & Okun, 19991999

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence

In order for Extension Educators to be In order for Extension Educators to be culturally competent, they must first culturally competent, they must first recognize their recognize their ownown biases and biases and preconceptions. preconceptions.

It then becomes easier to disregard those It then becomes easier to disregard those biases and learn about others in a non-biases and learn about others in a non-judgmental way.judgmental way.

Cultural CompetencyCultural Competency

CommunicationCommunication Every culture has its own communication Every culture has its own communication

style. style. direct versus indirect direct versus indirect verbal versus nonverbal verbal versus nonverbal high context versus low contexthigh context versus low context circular versus linear circular versus linear formal versus informalformal versus informal expressive versus stoic expressive versus stoic

Cultural CompetencyCultural Competency

CommunicationCommunication How do Euro-How do Euro-

Americans Americans communicate?communicate? Verbal/Non-verbalVerbal/Non-verbal Expressive/StoicExpressive/Stoic Linear/CircularLinear/Circular High context/ Low High context/ Low

contextcontext Formal/InformalFormal/Informal

Cultural CompetencyCultural Competency

CommunicationCommunication What are What are

characteristics of characteristics of Latin Communication Latin Communication styles?styles? Verbal/Non-verbalVerbal/Non-verbal Expressive/StoicExpressive/Stoic Linear/CircularLinear/Circular High context/Low High context/Low

contextcontext Formal/InformalFormal/Informal

Cultural CompetencyCultural Competency

CommunicationCommunication What are What are

characteristics of characteristics of Native American Native American Communication Communication styles?styles? Verbal/Non-verbalVerbal/Non-verbal Expressive/StoicExpressive/Stoic Linear/CircularLinear/Circular High context/Low High context/Low

contextcontext Formal/InformalFormal/Informal

Cultural CompetencyCultural Competency

CommunicationCommunication ““Awareness of one’s own cultural Awareness of one’s own cultural

communication style and awareness of communication style and awareness of other valid cultural communication styles other valid cultural communication styles reflect different perceptions, assumptions, reflect different perceptions, assumptions, norms, beliefs and values.” norms, beliefs and values.” –Schauber & Castania–Schauber & Castania

Cultural CompetencyCultural Competency

CommunicationCommunication Requires an understanding of:Requires an understanding of:

Historical Power Differences (i.e. Slavery)Historical Power Differences (i.e. Slavery) Present Day behaviors that result from the Present Day behaviors that result from the

history of that group’s survival (i.e. Russians’ history of that group’s survival (i.e. Russians’ external coldness is a result of the Stalin era external coldness is a result of the Stalin era when they were under surveillance)when they were under surveillance)

Ability to empathize cross-culturally (i.e. The Ability to empathize cross-culturally (i.e. The European Union is a geographically small European Union is a geographically small area with great diversity—they learn cultural area with great diversity—they learn cultural empathy and tolerance quickly).empathy and tolerance quickly).

Cultural CompetencyCultural Competency

CommunicationCommunication Requirements, continuedRequirements, continued

Acceptance of multiple perspectives (i.e. Acceptance of multiple perspectives (i.e. Gandhi’s mediation between the British, Hindu Gandhi’s mediation between the British, Hindu and Muslim all vying for power in India)and Muslim all vying for power in India)

Observation while reserving judgments. Observation while reserving judgments. Adaptation of one’s communication style to Adaptation of one’s communication style to

others (i.e. Native Americans and early others (i.e. Native Americans and early European settlers interactions)European settlers interactions)

Cultural CompetencyCultural Competency

CommunicationCommunication There are many There are many

resources available to resources available to assist in developing assist in developing culturally appropriate culturally appropriate communication.communication.

The best way is to The best way is to actually DO it! Interact actually DO it! Interact with culturally diverse with culturally diverse people, their families, people, their families, their religion, their their religion, their language and their language and their communities.communities.

ResourcesResources

Strengthening Programs to Reach Diverse Strengthening Programs to Reach Diverse Audiences: Audiences: http://fycs-diversity.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://fycs-diversity.ifas.ufl.edu

National Extension Diversity Center: National Extension Diversity Center: http://www.ediversitycenter.net/http://www.ediversitycenter.net/

Teachers Corner EdChange Multicultural Teachers Corner EdChange Multicultural Pavilion: Pavilion: http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/teachttp://www.edchange.org/multicultural/teachers.htmlhers.html

ReferencesReferences Corey, M.S., & Corey, G. (2003). Corey, M.S., & Corey, G. (2003). Becoming a Becoming a

helperhelper. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Dresser, N. (1996). Dresser, N. (1996). Multicultural manners: New Multicultural manners: New

rules of etiquette for a changing societyrules of etiquette for a changing society . New . New York: Wiley.York: Wiley.

Guion, L.A., Chattaraj, S.C. & Lytle, S.S. (2005). Guion, L.A., Chattaraj, S.C. & Lytle, S.S. (2005). A Conceptual framework for connecting across A Conceptual framework for connecting across cultures. cultures. Journal of Family and Consumer Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, Sciences, 97(1), 76-82.97(1), 76-82.

Okun, B., Fried, J. & Okun, M. (1999). Okun, B., Fried, J. & Okun, M. (1999). Understanding Diversity: A learning-as-practice Understanding Diversity: A learning-as-practice primer.primer. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.