Blog 10:
My initial expectations of this course professionally were to help me to be able to work with and relate to other cultures instead of just one particular cultural group. Allowing me to better understand others from different walks of life. I expected to make connections between the different cultures and also note any differences a culture may have. As I refer back to the syllabus I feel I have been successful in all the objectives. Each assignment allowed me to make connections outside of this course. Coming into the course I was sure that cultures were going to be completely different from each other. I thought it would be hard to find similarities or connections between them. While taking this course it has shown me that cultures are more alike than we think.
Things I would do differently in this course:
- Try to make more connections to real-life events and other courses
- Communicate more with my peers
- Start a virtual study group
- Do assignments way in advance
This course enables you to learn and study cultures that you may not think about or examine on your own. My knowledge of other cultures and my own have grown. I am more sensitive and aware of others and how their culture reacts or handles certain situations. From this course a skill I have gained is awareness. In a professional life setting the work environment is bound to be diverse. It will be filled with individuals of different cultures. Me being aware means I understand that different individuals may look at the same situation as me but have different reasonings. It will help me find a common ground of approaches with my peers. This image of “The best is yet to come” is something I always tell myself. I knew this class would be an opportunity for me to learn and grow as a person. I knew I would be able to apply some of the things I learned to my professional life. It reminds minds me of when people say “The more you know the more you grow”.
il_570xN.1000454431_p3lz.jpg (570×427) (etsystatic.com)
Blog 9:
There were three different concepts that stood out to me throughout this course. The three concepts are Values, Intercultural sensitivity, and the benefit of different test strategies. In assignment 2 we read L Robert Kohls and his “The Values Americans Live By”. This article focused on the key values all Americans have. The values depicted are basic but accurate to the average person. This allowed me to take the values that most Americans may have and compare them to those of another culture. Before this course, I did not know what intercultural sensitivity was. Assignment 1 gave me an understanding of what it is and the different stages of it. I learned that acceptance of difference was the category or stage that was best suited for me. In blog four we talked about the exam we had and how we prepared for it. I have always had a certain strategy or routine when it comes to studying for my courses. This course has taught me new techniques to retain information. I have also figured out what works for me and what doesn’t. This concept can be used in any other course I am taking or will take in the future. One concept we learned in this course is gender in different cultures. That included gender roles, gender stereotypes, and the gender differences across cultures. In module 9 our items to archive assignment focused on different occupations and what gender you thought of. It highlighted some gender stereotypes that someone may have. I am someone that believes that any gender can have any job they would like. However, I feel that I have been conditioned to think of a certain gender within a certain occupation. I also believe it is a generational thing and the time period in which someone was born or how they were raised. Within this course, we focused on culture, language, and communication. In my African American class, we focused on the same concept however the main focus was those in the African American culture. In African American cultures there is a term called ebonics. Were African Americans have their own dialect and language that is used a lot in today’s society. African Americans have a certain verve and rhythm when they talk. This kind of verve and rhythm is unique to those in this particular culture. In this course, we highlight different cultures and how their communication and language may differ from another culture. Also the history behind the language of a culture. To me this image represents connections. Every puzzle piece is individual until you connected it all together and then the image makes sense. That is how this course is. Everything learned in the course came together in the end.
The-Recruiting-Funnel-Connect-Phase.jpg (749×448) (randallreilly.com)
Blog 8:
There are many ways someone can express themselves and we may not notice that we are similar in these ways of expression. One way you can express yourself is through dance. Indian, African, Asian, and Polynesian (Samoan) cultures do this. They dance to convey stories, tradition, happiness, and many other things. Another way different cultures express themselves is through what food they eat, where they eat it, and how they eat it. Some cultures eat specific meals that no other culture eats. Other cultures tend to eat their meals together as a family. In America, meals are not always eaten together instead some eat in front of tv screens. In different cultures, we use different techniques to eat our meals. For example, Americans use metal utensils while another culture might use chopsticks, their hands, or other pieces of food to eat their meal. Because I am from America when I look at others’ facial expressions and body language I expect them to be the same as mine. However, that is not the case. The Japanese mask their emotions. They show very little expression and keep a somewhat straight face. While Americans use facial expressions and body language to tell or understand the emotions someone is feeling before they are ever told. I expected Japanese culture to focus on the mouth and eyes like I do when interpreting someone’s mood but instead they just focus on eyes alone. I chose this image because it represents different cultures and some of their traditional dances. Which is one way individuals choose to express themselves.
Mexican-folklore-dance.jpg (675×339) (worlddanceheritage.org)
maxresdefault.jpg (1280×720) (ytimg.com)
childrendancing.jpg (1000×750) (secureservercdn.net)
Blog 7:
When I think of fairy tales I think of all of the Princess movies Disney has made. In just about all of them, the storyline is the same. The princess is pressured or taught to believe that they have to marry early and when they do marry it should be to a prince or someone with a high social class. When some of the princesses wanted to marry someone opposite of this it was frowned upon. Disney also introduces gender roles. They show the woman as someone who needs a man to complete their life. Also, they show a view of women being weak and a damsel in distress. The men in the fairy tale are always presented as strong and charming. Egalitarian individuals see everyone as equal. Tiana was certainly one of those individuals. In the movie “Princess and The Frog” she and Prince Naveen were frogs. Even then she saw him as more than just a frog. She fell in love with him not because of his looks but because of how he made her feel and their conversation. Tiana saw the frog as equal to a human. Another individual that had the same views was Tiana’s friend Charlotte. Charlotte is from a higher economic class than Tiana. Usual individuals tend to have friends of the same economic class however that was not the case with Tiana and Charlotte. They have been childhood friends and are still friends as adults. Money did not make Charlotte feel that she was better than Tiana. Tiana has a positive impact on those that have watched Princess and The Frog. She showed that you should never give up on your dream. Even when everyone doubted her she worked every day with long hours to save up for her own restaurant. Tiana had a positive mindset and she was taught to never lose sight of what was important to her. She demonstrated that someone from a low economic background can do anything.
This image shows Tiana working hard for the dream that she made a reality. Even after her many challenges. It shows a woman who was tired but never gave up. It shows a strong independent woman.
Tiana-Dreams-About-her-Restaurant-in-The-Princess-and-the-Frog.jpg (1000×552) (disney.com)
Blog 6 :
Autonomy involves taking the initiative and being responsible for your own life. From an educational standpoint, I can do so by taking advantage of all my opportunities in college. Taking notes from lectures is the start of that. Creating study groups and study guides can lead to better test scores and overall grades. Asking questions when something is unknown can be seen as taking the initiative of my education.
Competence is how successful or efficient something is done. When it comes to school work competence is important because you are graded on how efficient and successful you are on your assignments. Since I take multiple courses I make sure I manage my time. I do so by doing assignments ahead of time so I never have to worry about being behind or late. Also, multitasking plays a role in being successful in all classes, not just one. The last thing that allows me to be successful in college is zoom meeting with my professors. I can take that time to ask questions about the course or an assignment that may have had some mistakes.
When I think of relatedness academically I think of how else I can use the information learned. Any new information learned from a course I ask myself how it may relate to me and my views. I try to make connections to something that is happening in the world at the moment or another course that I am taking. The main thing I do is make connections between the things learned in class and how I can use them in my desired career field.
I chose the picture of a bird with the quote “The early bird catches the worm.”. This basically means being first to do something increases the chances of success. I thought about my school work when picking this quote. By doing assignments ahead of time it leaves more time to study the material and ask questions. Which can lead to more successful grades.
early-bird.jpg (1160×773) (warble-entertainment.com)
Blog 5:
Who am I? It’s hard for me to describe myself especially in only 10 statements but I did it. Numbers 1,2, 5,8,9, and 10 can all be seen as independent construals of self. Whereas numbers 3,4, 6, and 7 can be seen as interdependent construals of self. Based on my answers I believe I am more independent than interdependent. It was easier for me to think of a proverb associated with an interdependent self. I believe the reason for that is because it is something I do not associate with myself since I viewed myself as more independent than interdependent. I have an easier time describing someone else than I would myself. The image I chose was a quote from Beyonce. It reminds me that I am who I am and as time goes on I will grow as a person and share with the world who I am.
Independent self – “It’s a blessing in disguise.”
Interdependent self – “Birds of a feather flock together”
I Am:
1236540987-beyonce-i-am.jpg (1439×829) (quotesgram.com)
Blog 4:
Reviewing the exam is very beneficial. It showed me what I had trouble with. This allows me to understand what was wrong and what is the correct answer for future reference. Knowing what the correct answer is makes it so that the same mistake is not made. To prepare for this exam the first thing I did was what everyone does take notes. I followed the slides provided and I read the textbook to add to the information I already had. I made sure I was organized and that studied the information in a quiet environment where there were no distractions. When studying I made sure I took breaks in between so I did not overwhelm myself. This exam feedback showed me that the strategies I used to study are effective. It shows in my score that I am grasping the material and I am learning from this course. For future exams, I will use the same strategies and continue to learn from my mistakes. This image represents me studying for the exam. The young lady in this image is reading a book and retaining knowledge.
Week Before The Exam:
black woman studying – Bing images
Blog 3:
On the Conscientiousness dimension, I scored high. Scoring high in conscientiousness means you are an organized person who is goal-oriented and only strives for the best. When it comes to school and my assignments I am extremely organized. I use a calendar to keep track of due dates and each class has a separate folder that contains notes, printed assignments, or anything pertaining to that class. I make sure I am focused on the goal in front of me which is graduating with a degree in Psychology. On the Agreeableness dimension, I scored low which means I have a competitive side, I am doubtful and I manage my anger differently. I am the type of person where if I’m upset or angry with you I am going to let you know. I do not like to avoid conflict I would rather let you know what is bothering me so the situation can be resolved. On the Extraversion dimension, I scored low which is extremely accurate to my personality. I am an introvert with few friends but that is just the way I like it. I enjoy my privacy and alone time. When I get home from work I just take some time for myself before I interact with those in my household. On the Openness dimension, I scored average. I was described as practical but willing to take different paths or try new things. I also enjoy the new and the old. For example, I love to try new foods that I have never tried before. Eating the same things and not trying anything new is just not me. It is better to have a balance of new and old foods. On the Neuroticism dimension, I scored high. Therefore I can be seen as emotional, sensitive, and upset at times. For example, I see myself as a person that wears my heart on my sleeve. When it comes to those I love I am emotional and sympathetic because I care more about them than myself sometimes.
ME:
When asked to describe my personality there is an endless amount of words that I think of. This image represents the main traits that I believe describe me. Every person has their own combination of traits and this is mine.
Blog 2:
In able to have or pursue a career some of the life values I should have are dependability, consistency, communication, caring, accountability and balance just to name a few. My job should be able to depend on me. The quality of my work should be consistent as well as my punctuality. I should have great communication skills as well as the ability to be accountable for my work failures and accomplishments. I should care about others as well as myself. Having a work and personal life balance. As a college student, these values are the same and prepare you for a career and its environment. Balancing schoolwork and your personal life is beneficial. Being able to successfully communicate with your professor. Having accountability for my assignments. Even if one assignment was missed.
I knew I wanted a career that paid well and would provide for me and my family in the future. Most high paying jobs expect and need you to have a higher level of education to qualify for certain positions. Especially in the career field, I want to pursue I need a higher education to be considered for that position. My parents were a significant reason why I decided to continue my education. They continued their education some but they never completed their schooling. I want to be a first-generation graduate in my family. Teachers in my high school also pushed everyone to follow in higher education. They make it seem as if that is the only direction we should go in. Therefore that is the reason I decided to continue my education.
Books:
I chose this image because it shows the courses I am taking. It reminds me that I am one step closer to obtaining my degree. Therefore I will be able to transfer my values to the workplace.
Blog 1:
The course objectives will not only help me professionally but also personally in my future. Professionally this course will help me to be able to work with and relate to other cultures instead of just one particular cultural group. This will be very important in my career if I chose to work with younger children. I am positive I will gain a lot from this course. This course will allow me to better understand others from different walks of life. I expect to make connections between the similarities of different cultures while still seeing that there are differences as well. To be successful in this course I plan on reading the textbook, taking notes, and watching any related videos we have for the chapter of that week. The most important things that will help with my success in this class are studying the material and asking questions when I am unsure of something.
Knowledge:
https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*_ykiQLIVzctvBfzFbtF4oQ.png
I chose this meme to represent what is expected of this semester. Which is knowledge. This semester is about learning and understanding other cultures. I am preparing myself to have the knowledge of different cultures and the role psychology has in them.