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02/02/2021 - Week 5: Cultural Paradigms

   


  When I visited the U.S. four years ago, I was on the moon. Seeing the houses, streets, and even people made me feel inside of an old TV show. It was like the High School Music American dream coming true. But, taking out the wonder, and a tiny bit of excitement, I felt like a fish out of the water. Even though I had contact with American culture almost my whole life, part by the media and part by some relatives who live there, it was still weird. Some things that were normal to me just weren’t for them. I felt like that astronaut in the movie Planet 51. But instead of raining rocks, I was in a land where people flushed toilet paper inside of the toilet.




 If only two months there made me feel this way, I imagine what goes on the minds of those who had to move permanently to another country. How is it to know that these different concepts now are part of your life? How is it to feel ashamed or see others laughing at you for something that is just natural? 


When you are learning another language is almost a rule that you have to understand its culture. Why is this so? Because you have to understand how others think to understand how they speak, live, and interact. But why is it so different? Because of one thing called paradigm. 


A paradigm is an idea of what something has to be in that culture. A model of how we process certain behaviors, speech, and interactions. We have paradigms for almost everything, beauty, fashion, pride, and even how we walk in the street, everything is culturally shaped. And when we move to another place, even if we speak the same language, it is possible that some of those concepts may change. And it is when some concepts change between cultures that the conflicts appear.


To understand it better, check this video:



  As we can see in the video, culture is completely related to living. How we behave, why we do or don’t do certain things, is almost completely - if not completely - related to the paradigms formed by our culture. Sometimes I find myself wondering if I could fit in some of those paradigms. What we eat, say, and do, just are different, that is no wonder why they ask themselves if they will ever fit in.

 

And this is where teaching appears. It is essential for a teacher to fully understand that what we consider embarrassing, brave, and even respectful can change from culture to culture, especially for those who have in their classroom students who suffer from the impacts of a non comprehended culture paradigm. A teacher must understand that my values may not be the same as my students, and we can be punishing them for something they do not understand or intended to do.


We may not be able to understand everything, but just knowing that the differences exist opens our mind and heart to better understand their challenges and how we may help.

Not only teachers should know that, but everyone.


References: https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/1157612/sp/115761200/embedIframeJs/uiconf_id/43228871/partner_id/1157612?iframeembed=true&playerId=kaltura_player_1539879321&entry_id=0_9w0czg1f

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0kzF4A-WQ

Comments

  1. Larissa YopanFebruary 2, 2021 at 9:07 PM

    Hey Julia,
    Great post! Did you go to the USA as a missionary? I've never been abroad, but I already had the privilege to know some states, like Bahia on my fifteenth birthday. I loved being there! I totally agree with you that it’s crucial to get familiar with the culture of a country if you want to speak its native language. I liked the link you did with the movie Planet 51. I am sure it’s a huge challenge to move to another country. Being aware of cultural differences makes all difference. Just knowing that there are many ways to do something and that our way is not the right way but just “a way”, can bring good feelings toward all people around the world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julia C. R. BarrettoFebruary 2, 2021 at 11:36 PM

      Hi, Larissa.
      Thank you for your comment. Cultural differences are so important, and yet so underrated. As Carlos Fuentes said "We shall know each other or we shall exterminate each other".
      I was not in a mission when I travelled to the U.S., it was as turistic travel. I have some relatives that live there, so I went to visit them.

      Delete
    2. Larissa YopanFebruary 3, 2021 at 5:32 PM

      That's nice. I hope I can go there someday. There are many places I would like to visit.

      Delete
  2. Jake BuzanFebruary 3, 2021 at 1:10 AM

    Hi, Julia! Are you from Brazil? Because the part where you mentioned the toilet paper related to me. ;) Where in the United States did you visit?

    It's one of those paradoxes: our cultural paradigms make us unique, but we have to know which ones are truly beneficial and which ones are just superficial. Great blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julia C. R. BarrettoFebruary 4, 2021 at 6:25 PM

      Thank you, Jake. I am from Brazil. I had visited Arizona back in that time, and also Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico. It was a great experience, and each state had their own identity. Culture can vary around countries and even states inside the same country.

      Delete
    2. Jake BuzanFebruary 5, 2021 at 12:38 AM

      I knew it! Fala, Brasileira! Which part of Brazil are you from?
      I have family in New Mexico and I was born in Colorado. Beautiful part of the US. ;) Very unique from the rest of the country.

      Delete

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