CULTURAL COMPETENCE

1. CULTURAL COMPETENCE What is it? When does it become important? Peter Armbrust Chair, Strategic Languages Partner Language Training Center Europe George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

2. DEFINITIONS • CULTURE The sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another. • COMPETENT Having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, etc. for some purpose.

3. CULTURE • Cumulative and ever-changing amalgamation of - customs, conventions, attitudes, beliefs - past and current events reflected in: - written / spoken communication, gestures, body language.

4. CULTURE-COMPETENCE • CULTURE – NOT separate ... fully integrated in L/R/S. • COMPETENCE – reflected in: sociolinguistic ability knowledge attitudes

5. KNOWLEDGE • Currently accepted … - cultural norms & practices - ideals - values - relationships - motivation (opinion, actions) - “C” – history, literature, arts, etc.

6. ABILITY • Function - TL community … - without giving offense – word/deed and… - develop … - trust - confidence - relationships

7. “Cultural Communication Skills Template – Arabs of West Asia” • Ethics / Morality - Fatalism: all is predetermined - Truth/honesty: manner vs. factual accuracy - Patriotism: family > class > religion/sect> …… then …

8. Template (cont’d) • Communication - Exaggeration & hyperbole - Emphasis: volume, oaths, repetition - Interruptions: frequent … expected

9. Template (cont’d) • Business / Professional call - Be on time, but … - Expect interruptions … other people - Shake hands …everyone, every time - Conversation …digressions - Host takes lead … business agenda - Do not pressure for decisions

10. Template (cont’d) • Proverbs (Islamic values, fatalism) “ Marriage is fate and destiny” “ The eye cannot rise above the eyebrow” “ The knife of the family does not cut” “ Older than you by a day, wiser than you by a year”

11. LANGUAGE-CULTURE(Nostrand,1990) • NOVICE – High (ILR 0+) S.L. – attitude – good will…verbal/non- verbal K. – interprets behavior according to code of home country; misinterprets culture-specific, non-verbal clues.

12. LANGUAGE-CULTURE (cont’d) • ADVANCED – (ILR 2) S.L. – polite requests, apologies, introductions…discuss some current events K. - superficial re. society, economy, political parties, factions, some contemporary issues, historical events and personalities

13. LANGUAGE-CULTURE (cont’d) • SUPERIOR – (ILR 3) S.L. – cultural references, idioms, puns. Distinguish-formal/informal behavior Participate – formal/informal discussions Infer – underlying intent of speaker’s message

14. LANGUAGE-CULTURE (cont’d) • SUPERIOR- (ILR 3) (cont’d) K – point of view …some current political figures, periodicals. Electoral procedures Recent cultural achievements (film, music, etc.) Explain features – own culture = puzzle TL speaker.

15. LANGUAGE-CULTURE (cont’d) • OPTIMAL – (ILR5) S.L. – Behaves in such a way as to permit acceptance in any group/clique in the TL country. K. – Informed on all matters which a native typically retains from a secondary education.

16. LANG.-LIT.- CULT. (U.S.)(Kramsch, 1998) • ACADEMIA – written, literary knowledge …critical analysis & interpretation = • Superior to orally preserved /transmitted wisdom. SHIFT … purely literate > oral, visual, electronic culture NOW … < read/translate > actually SPEAK / communicate (e-mail, etc.) WHY? – Need FL ability …immediate/universal purpose

17. LANG. – LIT. – CULT. (U.S.) (cont’d) • Oral – challenge…exclusivity…text-based scholarship • “Unschooled knowledge” – vs. educational monopoly of schools • Info. processing technologies – humanities concern – critical thinking & interpretive ability

18. LANG. – LIT. – CULT. (U.S.) (cont’d) • Real-life practices & everyday culture vs. literary & artistic canon as sole valid object of research SLA research – away from “pure” language > language with “c” culture embedded.

19. THE TEACHER • Convey …knowledge …do’s / don’ts • Issue: Qualification • native ? • 1st generation • non-native THE STUDENT - own cultural competence

20. UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENCES(Gardenschwartz/Rowe, 1993) • ASPECTS OF CULTURE Beliefs/Attitudes U.S. – Individual controls own destiny RU – Dreaminess, unreachable ideals, acceptance of destiny

21. UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENCES (cont’d) • Work Habits / Practices U.S. – Task-oriented, schedules RU – Emphasis on relationships U.S. – Rewards…individual achievement RU – Relationships, seniority

22. UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENCES (cont’d) • Communication U.S. - Implicit, indirect Business: Explicit, direct RU – Explicit, direct Business: Implicit, indirect

23. Pity the poor translator/interpreter • “Don’t ask, don’t tell” – A general speaks his mind” • “Still bumping into the glass ceiling” • “O.J. freshly squeezed” • “Edsel Agonistes”

24. …more pity … “ You know something is wrong when the New England Patriots face stiffer penalties for spying on innocent Americans than Dick Cheney and George Bush” (Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico)

25. …more pity… A: Well that was strike one against us. Ideas?... B: Nah, we couldn’t even get to first base last time. A: That’s ‘cause their proposal came from way out in left field. B: Yeah, and then they threw us a curve ball to boot! A: The Secretary thought that was real bush-league.

26. …more pity … B: …and then they tried an end-run through the UN! A: You might call that “piling on!” B: Well, it’s over – we don’t want to get into Monday morning quarter-backing. A: Time to drop back and punt? B: Yeah. But can we still win this one for the gipper? A: It’s a slam-dunk!