intercultural learning
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
PEACE, IT’S SOMETHING WE CAN
CREATE
Culture and intercultural learning
It is obvious!
The world is inhabited by very diverse human beings from different cultures
Culture is…The collective programming of the human mind that distinguishes the members of one human group from those of another. Culture in this sense is a system of
collectively held values. - - Geert Hofstede
Life experiences
Family
Religion
Ethnicity
Education
Nationality
Geography
History
Economic Level
Gender
The “iceberg”
The “iceberg”
The visible characteristics in the surface
Deeper characteristics of specific cultural groups
Perceptions
Filtered through experiences, history, stereotypes, etc
Specific of the individual
Universal
Inherited and learned
Learned
Inherent
We are not defined only by our culture
Personality
Culture
Human nature
Specific of one group
What’s known… is right?
What’s unknown… is wrong?
Multicultural societies(the conflict)
Multicultural societies are those where different cultural, national, ethnic, religious and other groups live in the same
territory BUT are not necessarily integrated.
In these societies, difference is perceived as something negative… an excuse for discrimination.
Intercultural learning
Intercultural learning is a special kind of learning that transforms the mental structures of an individual and grants him or her the opportunity to walk in
the shoes of “the other”.
Intercultural learning educates to:
Appreciate, understand, respect, integrate and, in some cases, selectively adopt customs and characteristics from a cultural group different from one’s own.
Intercultural societies(the harmony)
Intercultural societies are those where different cultural, national, ethnic, religious and other groups live in the same territory maintaining respectful and collaborative relations.
There is a harmonious integration of different values and ways of life based on tolerance.
Diversity is perceived as an asset and NOT as a problem.
AFS Intercultural Programs
It’s a volunteer based, non-profit organization that provides opportunities for intercultural learning experiences.
AFS works toward a more just and peaceful world thru promotion of values as tolerance, respect and solidarity.
AFS has more than 53 years of volunteer service in Costa Rica and offers sending and hosting student exchange programs in more that
55 countries around the world.
www.afs.or.cr
It’s just different
It’s not better
It’s not worse
www.afs.or.cr