Intercultural Studies

 

Intercultural Education Opportunities 

Samantha Castellanos

    Living in L.A. County, having some sort of intercultural interaction on a day to day basis is inevitable because L.A. is so culturally diverse,"cultural diversity, described as people of many different ethnocultural backgrounds living in one society, has become a growing fact of many countries in recent years" (Ball, 2016). Intercultural education is a work that is never completely done-- it is something that can always be expanded and improved upon. I know people who teach intercultural communications in civic contexts from elementary school, all the way up to college. Intercultural studies promotes self-awareness about "our own cultural identity and background," understanding of different demographics in countries with high immigration rates like the US, economic and technological growth, and environmental proactiveness (Martin and Nakayama, 2022). Cultural studies are a beautiful way to connect with one's own culture, as well as garnering appreciation for other cultures. Learning about how all cultures mesh together is what makes a rich environment for growth. 

    I've personally benefited from learning about intercultural communication and issues from Dr. Chenseng Bai at Cal State LA. He has changed the way I approach the world and communicating with others. The world is filled to the brim with unique individuals from a million different backgrounds and L.A. is a focal point of intercultural comisseratin. Knowing how to treat others with respect, especially in such a diverse area, only opens doors and promotes opportunities for learning and growing. I chose this issue because my mom mentioned that she was teaching her third grade class about intercultural studies by reading works from authors of different cultural backgrounds. She's a second grade teacher and knowing kids that age are learning to respect others from all backgrounds really impacted me. My parents raised me to appreciate other cultures and navigate the world with understanding and conviction, which is a tool everyone should utilize in building community. 

Intercultural Connections in my Community

Shirley Castellanos Pico Rivera, CA 

    Shirley is a third grade teacher at Rio Hondo Elementary in Downey, California. 

     She believes that learning about other cultures from a young age is invaluable. "We teach the kids to read books about other cultures. They should learn about all kinds of people from a young age".

Kylie Johnson Rosemead, CA

        Kylie believes in the importance of learning about other cultures as it benefits workplace environments. "I am able to perform better because I surpass the language barrier with my French clients. Learning about other cultures has helped me excel at work".

Edwin Oliva, Elysian Park, CA