Name : Camelia Manalu
Nim : 1888203048
Class : 5.1
Subject : Cross Cultural Understanding
Lecturer : Dr.Herlinawati, M.Ed
1. In Indonesia foreign cultures, someone needs to understand well the cultures to avoid cultural conflicts. But, many people are failed to understand the value and customs of foreign cultures. According to your own idea, please explain what do you need to have to understand foreign cultures in order to avoid cultural conflicts.
Answer : Cross-cultural understanding in language learning is needed to avoid cultural conflicts. When we learn a foreign language, at the same time we have to study the foreign culture in the target language because language and culture are two things that cannot be separated. If we only learn a foreign language without understanding its culture, it has the potential to cause cultural conflict with native speakers. By understanding culture means that we already have the basic ability to respond to a difference and act appropriately to people with different cultural backgrounds. So in understanding cross-culture, it is necessary to be open to the new values of the incoming culture, believing that all cultures are good (eliminating the notion that culture itself is the best culture while other cultures are considered bad cultures). That way, we can communicate with strangers without offending any party so as not to cause cullture shock or cultural conflict.
2. How do you define your local culture is different from foreign culture ? Do you think local and foreign cultures need to be integrated ? please provide your reasons.
Answer : Local culture is everything that we create, grow and develop as part of our life where we live. Meanwhile, foreign culture or often called western culture is the legacy of norms, values and customs that come from outside the region. Local culture with foreign culture needs to be integrated, but by paying attention to what culture we adopt, what I mean here is that we have to get rid of the notion that all foreign cultures are bad, good and bad exist in every culture including our own local culture. The integration of local culture with foreign culture is actually the right thing, in which we have to make a selection of which values we can integrate, we certainly don't take the wrong values, while we accept positive values with open arms. By integrating local culture with foreign culture does not mean that we allow our local culture to be displaced or destroyed, but rather strengthen local culture with the era of globalization, both cultures are positioned completely.
3. What is stereotype and prejudice ? Does it exist in your local culture ? Give example
Answer : A stereotype is a form of assessment that is owned by someone which will be categorized, stereotype also is a perception that is owned by people which is based on information obtained from thoughts based on one's own thoughts. While prejudice is when someone has a belief (usually something unfavorable / negative) about a certain person or group based on a stereotype, which is formed before having evidence and that is not based on reason or experience. Prejudice divides people's defense based on differences in gender, race, ethnicity and different cultures. Both stereotype and prejudice are equally dangerous because they ignore the fact that each individual has his / her own abilities, strengths, weaknesses, desires, thoughts and feelings.
Examples of negative stereotypes and prejudice that exist in my local culture (Batak) are for example the Batak people are known to be hard and rude, even though the fact is that it is not certain that all Batak people have a strong character, it all depends on their respective personnel, after the emergence of these stereotypes, a prejudice will emerge which is a unjustified negative attitudes towards certain groups.
