The Multiple ‘me’ and Globalization and Colonial Legacies | Reflective Journal

Modules 1. culture, life and learning 2. Intercultural competence is…

Running head: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: PART B
Reflective Journal: Part B
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Topics: The multiple ‘me’ and Globalization and colonial legacies
Introduction
Reflection is a necessary tool of learning as it helps in recalling the learnings and
apply them to real life scenario. The previous modules that includes learning about self-
identity and colonial legacies (Turner et al., 1992). Through the module I gained insight into
my own personality and how our identity is related to our ability to understand other cultural
worldview. The learnings provides information about globalization, colonization and its
impact on cultural competence. This response includes reflection on the modules 3 and 4 as
well as their implications on my own self and development both personally and
professionally.
Discussion
Learning through the modules
Through the module 3 and 4 I have learnt two other topics related to cultural
knowledge. The third module included concepts of self and cultural identity. Scholars have
claimed that cultural identity is a large part of cultural identity (Wijeyesinghe & Jones, 2014).
Self-identity is an important aspect that is related to cultural competency. The learnings
taught me that other than self-identity, individuals also have social identity which depends on
the similarities and differences that they are able to identify with others. This large defines
the interactions that they have with the other. The fourth module gave insight to the process
of colonization and how that has changed the idea of culture and has shaped different cultural
responses. I also learnt about the concept of “other” and how that change our response to
people (Rohleder, 2014).

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My initial reactions to the learning resources and activities
My initial reaction to the learnings were interest and curiosity. As through the self-
assessment in my previous module I was able to identify some of my skills related to
intercultural skills, I was interested in learning about the idea of self-identity and how that
shifts in social scenarios. When I learnt about colonialism and how that has affected the
cultural identities and created otherization, I sympathized with the people that suffered
through it.
Most interesting or surprising thing from the modules and reason
The most surprising aspect of the modules was the impact of colonization on the
global cultural aspects (Böröcz & Sarkar, 2012). It is evident that colonization will have
impact on world history. The globalization that we are experiencing today are largely a result
of colonial history. This has led to large scale migration and exchange of cultural practices
thus producing a much connected world. Though there are several negative impacts of it, we
cannot deny that it has sped up the process of creating a world community or brotherhood. It
is also the reason that cultural competence has become so important.
Fit of new learning with existing knowledge and experiences
The new learnings that I had through these module enriched my previous learnings of
module 1 and 2. Through the understanding of self-identity and social identity, I was able to
understand the idea of human dignity and that people might have different views, colors,
values and culture, but their dignity is equal with any other person (Hackman, Zuniga &
Peters, Eds.). It is our lack of understanding of this concept that creates the idea of other.
Moreover, the colonization and its implications on culture helped me reflect on the world
history and analyze the effects that it had on creating a global culture.

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Change of ideas as a result of learning
The learning enhanced my understanding ability and enriched my knowledge about
culture and competence. I have been able identify many of the assumptions and otherizations
that I might have done. Whenever I could not properly connect with a person who has
different culture than me I would easily assume that it was because they were different or
unable to understand my way. This learning modules helped me realize that there is no one
way of cultural communication and interactions and celebrating other cultures are also
effective in interactions. I have been able to become more rational and empathetic.
What else do I need to learn?
I need to look at past history to understand how other events in history has changed
the cultural course. As the module has taught me that history has great impact on culture and
I want to delve deeper into it. I also want to understand how the otherization is creating a
barrier for creating a global community. I need to learn the different rituals, greetings and
gestures that different cultures use and trace their meaning to understand the essence of those
cultures. These learnings will help me get a better insight into cultures which I can later
compare to understand the commonalities of the cultures.
Contribution of learning to my personal, social and professional development
The learning that I received through these two modules will help in developing my
personal and social and professional ability. The videos that I watched helped me understand
the politics that is related to culture. The lessons helped me understand the concept of culture
through Hofstede’s cultural model which is an effective tool (Prasad, 2012). This will
improve my social ability as I will be more open in cultural situations. I believe that being
informed and educated about culture, my response to situations will be different than others.
This knowledge can also be used for my professional development as cultural competence

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and ability to understand and interact across different culture is an important skills that is
liked by many organizations.
Influence of learning on my future behavior or practices
The learning that I received will improve my behavior and practices in many ways.
Better idea and understanding about cultural aspects will make me more willing to
understand the other cultures. It will give me the ability to understand the struggle and fear
that people of other cultures face when they face a new culture (Piller, 2011). Being learned
about these scenarios I will be able to practice more diplomacy and patience and give them
the opportunity to become more comfortable.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is evident that cultural knowledge and increasing
cultural competence is effective in developing personal, social and professional abilities. The
modules gave me vital information that would help me in developing my ability as culturally
competent individual.

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References
Böröcz, J., & Sarkar, M. (2012). Colonialism. Encyclopedia of Global Studies. Ed. Helmut
K. Anheier, Mark Juergensmeyer, and Victor Faessel. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE,
2012. 229-234.
Piller, I. (2011). Nation and culture (chapter 5). Intercultural communication: a critical
introduction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Hackman, X. Zuniga & M. Peters (Eds.), Readings for diversity and social justice: An
anthology on racism, sexism, anti-semitism, heterosexism, classism and ableism (pp.
9-14). New York: Routledge. Retrieved from
http://www.whiteprivilegeconference.com/resources/05-The-Complexity-of-Identity-
Beverly-Tatum.pdf
Prasad, A. (2012). Working against the grain: Beyond Eurocentrism in organization
studies. Against the grain: Advances in postcolonial organization studies, 13-31.
Rohleder, P. (2014). Othering. In T. Teo (Ed.), Encyclopedia of critical psychology. New
York: Springer.
Turner, J., Oakes, P., Haslam, A., & McGarty, C. (1992). Self and collective: cognition and
social context. Paper presented at the Self and Collective conference, Department of
Psychology, Princeton University, New Jersey. Retrieved from
http://psychology.anu.edu.au/files/Manuscripts-4-Self-and-Collective-Cognition-and-
Social-Context.pdf

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Wijeyesinghe, C. & Jones, S. (2014). Intersectionality, Identity and Systems of Power and
Inequality. In J. Mitchell, C. Simmons & L. Greyerbiehl (Eds.). Intersectionality in
Higher Education. New York: Peter Lang.