What are we learning

today?
1. determine culturally appropriate terms, expressions, and images;
2. adopt cultural and intercultural awareness and sensitivity in
communicating ideas; and
3. recognize the importance of using culturally appropriate terms in
this multicultural world.
 Share.

• Have you ever been to a place (physical or virtual) where you experience slight
or extreme differences in culture? How did you react?

• Have you experienced offending someone unintentionally because of your lack

of sensitivity? Have you ever been offended by someone because of
insensitivity? How did you manage to resolve the conflict?
Do you think these matter when you indulge yourselves with
others?
How do we become interculturally sensitive
communicators?
What do you think comes first, awareness
or sensitivity?
 What is cultural awareness?

“Cultural awareness is all about recognizing and understanding

that we all have different values shaped by our diverse cultural
backgrounds. What we consider to be 'normal' behavior in one
country can be entirely different in another.’’
 What is cultural sensitivity?

It entails cultural awareness, especially on the

diversity of people’s cultural backgrounds.
It is the ability to see the cultural differences as a
positive thing. Given the differences, a culturally
sensitive person acts accordingly.
 Gestures
• A gesture that is acceptable in one culture
might be meaningless or offensive in
another.
• Not every gesture is universal.
Heavy metal fans are familiar with the so-
called ‘sign of the horns’ in many European
and South American countries. This gesture
might be used to mock husbands whose
wives are unfaithful.
Mocking a circle with your thumb and your
index is how we signal “OK”. But make the
same gesture in Brazil, and you’re giving the
equivalent to the middle finger.
The thumbs-up gesture is a sign of approval
in most countries. However, in several
countries in West Africa and Middle East, it’s
basically giving out the middle finger.
In most cultures, crossing your fingers
means you’re hoping for good luck, but not in
Vietnam. For them, it is a gesture that
resembles female genitals and equivalent to
middle finger.
 TIPS FOR CULTURAL AWAR ENESS
• Have a clear sense of your own ethnic, cultural, and racial identity.

• Be aware of your own stereotypes.

• Take an opportunity to put yourself in places where you can learn

about differences.
 GENDER SENSITIVITY

• It is the aim of understanding and taking

account of the societal and cultural factors
involved in gender-based exclusion and
discrimination.
 GENDER-SENSITIVE LANGUAGE

Men and women and those who do not conform to the

binary gender system are made visible and addressed in
language as persons of equal value, dignity, integrity and
respect.
GENDER NEUTRAL TERMS
artificial man-made
chairperson chairman
solidarity brotherhood
legislator congressman
police officer policeman/ policewoman
flight attendant steward/stewardess
postal worker mailman
 POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

• It describes the language, policies, or measures

that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage
to members of particular groups in society.
Political correctness is nothing more than treating
others with respect.
 POLITICALLY INSTEAD OF
CORRECT
aesthetically challenged ugly
comb-free bald
senior, elderly old
informal settlers squatters
drug dependent drug addict
economically marginalized poor
 RACE AND ETHNICITY

• cultural differences
• geographic region
• ethnicity
• skin color
 RELIGION SENSITIVITY

Different spiritual beliefs and practices

may result in relationship clash if there’s
no religion sensitivity.
 How to show religion sensitivity:

• Choose appropriate topics to talk about

• Choose appropriate clothing to wear.
• Approach the situation or individuals with empathy
and respect.
Why is cultural awareness and sensitivity
important?
 Analyze the context below.
• Your 18-year old US citizen (since birth) cousin who has just
come from the United States for the first time is with you in
your family gathering in a far flung barrio. How are you going
to show sensitivity to her/him? In what way can this cousin of
yours show sensitivity to your own culture?
 Analyze the context below.
• You have bisexual friend. You take her with you in your family
gathering. When you are seated in the table, some of your other
aunts and relatives badmouth the existence of LGBTQ.

• How will you approach the situation?

 Analyze this.

• If you were hired to teach in a foreign

country one day, what would be the
steps you take before actually teaching
there?
Try this.