Reading Materials_Peace Education_Qtr.

4_April 13, 2024

What is Intercultural Understanding?

Schools across the globe strive to create caring cultures within their walls.
Because we exist in a global society, thinking about what concepts could
naturally bring relevance to creating such a culture, we can look to
intercultural understanding as a focus and ask, “How can we nurture
intercultural understanding so as to contribute to the creation of caring
cultures in our schools?”

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary defines caring and culture as:

Caring- Feeling and exhibiting concern and empathy for others

Culture- The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs,

institutions, and all other products of human work and thought. Culture is
learned and shared within social groups and is transmitted by nongenetic
means.

We can then picture a caring culture as one where the shared beliefs include
experiencing and demonstrating concern and empathy for one another.
Intercultural awareness requires really seeing each person as a unique
individual and exhibiting an openness to shared experiences. When we reflect
on creating caring cultures, being student-centered, considering the whole
child, and striving to build a sense of belonging, all stand out from the
research, models, and scholarly articles on the subject. Each of these ideas
asks that we see each other. The type of seeing that is needed can be described
by the Zulu greeting “Sawubona” (“We see you”). Sawubona is an invitational
acknowledgement and agreement that all are present in sharing and
appreciating the time together and open to the potential the encounter offers. It
requires seeing others’ feelings and aspirations. This type of inercultural
communication expresses a curiosity about others’ journeys that formed those
feelings and the thinking that has inspired those aspirations. The “We”
meaning in the greeting speaks to the ancestors of all the parties involved,
acknowledging that one’s familial heritage and culture is present and
influential in their being. This Zulu greeting can inspire us because it requires
that everyone be compassionate inquirers and open-minded, reflective thinkers
that desire to see the true humanity in every individual encountered.
Reading Materials_Peace Education_Qtr. 4_April 13, 2024

Why is Intercultural Understanding Important?

Whether a school has a diverse or homogeneous culture, in today’s world, the
importance of intercultural understanding in the classroom is essential to a
caring culture. On the local level, every person brings their culture with them
to the school like a mosaic of their personal histories. In schools with cultural
diversity, thought must be put into how varying cultures can harmoniously
blend so as everyone is acknowledged, valued and celebrated. In either case,
the possibilities of how to ensure that each person experiences cultural
understanding, equity, belonging, support for effective learning, and a spirit of
celebration of diversity must be contemplated. Globally, we need intercultural
understanding and awareness because of our interdependence for a
sustainable world inclusive of areas such as the environment, technological
connections, health issues (like pandemics), socio-political arenas, economic
impact, and the quest for peace.

Guide Questions:
1. Why should schools create a culture caring environment?
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2. How can you describe a caring culture environment?

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3. What is “Sawubona” means. Explain?

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4. Explain why Intercultural Understanding is important?

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Reflection:
I realized that
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Reading Materials_Peace Education_Qtr. 4_April 13, 2024