Erasmus+ Programme: Understanding Culture and Identity

Understanding Culture and Its Importance

  • Introduction to Culture

  • Focus on the Erasmus+ Programme, specifically Key Action 2 targeting Capacity Building in Higher Education.

  • Importance of cultural awareness and intercultural communicative competence (ICC).

  • Rapid Changes in the World

  • Recent decades have seen significant technological advancements that impact integration and interaction across cultures.

  • Cultural Learning

  • Learning about various cultures, including one's own, is crucial for understanding diverse values, norms, and beliefs.

  • Recognizing how these factors influence communication is vital to prevent misunderstandings.

  • Developing Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC)

  • Defined as the ability to engage effectively and appropriately with individuals from different cultural backgrounds.

  • Key skills and attitudes necessary for ICC include:

    • Empathy: Understanding feelings and perspectives of others.
    • Respect: Valuing cultural differences.
    • Tolerance: Accepting diverse viewpoints.
    • Sensitivity: Being aware of cultural nuances.
    • Flexibility: Adapting communication styles to accommodate differences.

Identity and Culture

  • Individual Identity and Cultural Background

  • Identity is shaped by our self-perception and how we believe others perceive us.

  • Our beliefs about ourselves are constructed from prior experiences within a cultural context.

  • Schema Concept

  • Identity organizes personal beliefs into a mental structure known as a schema, which influences behavior and communication style.

  • Example: A US business student in Bulgaria may view themselves as self-confident and knowledgeable, whereas a Bulgarian female student may see herself as shy and sensitive.

  • Impact of Communication on Identity

  • Interaction within social groups influences one's self-identity defined by "Me," "Myself," and "I."

  • The "Me" reflects social expectations while the "I" signifies personal ego, which can conflict with societal norms.

  • If individual expressions ("I") do not align with social expectations ("Me"), internal reminders of behavioral norms arise to guide conduct.