Intercultural Experience Paper
Intercultural Experience
Abstract
I collaborated with the Reclamation Project to tutor young Burmese children in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to complete my cultural immersion project. Throughout this paper, I will explain where my tutoring took place and my reasoning for selecting this activity. I also will describe in detail my outlook on the Burmese population in Fort Wayne before this activity and how it changed following the completion of this activity. Finally, I will illustrate how this activity relates to my everyday life
Intercultural Experience Assignment
Have you ever felt alone or excluded because you were considered a minority? Have you ever felt anxious or uncertain about the future? Have you ever felt out of place because you have been judged by others? I felt alone, excluded, anxious, uncertain, and out of place during my collaboration with The Reclamation Project when I tutored young Burmese children. However, this experience and these emotions …show more content…
allowed me to immerse myself into a different culture and broaden my global perspective. Additionally, tutoring young Burmese children with the Reclamation Project in Fort Wayne, Indiana, opened my eyes to another way of life, different cultural norms and values, and it affected my perception of Burmese people. The activities in which I and the young children participated and our personal interactions had great implications on my professional and personal development.
My Motivation for Working with the Burmese Population
My sister Chris, occasionally works with The Reclamation Project, a faith-based organization that promotes the integration of resettled refugees into the Fort Wayne, Indiana, community (The Reclamation Project, 2010).
She had been encouraging me to help with one of their missions, where I would tutor young Burmese children and assist with their homework assignments. After some consideration, I agreed to participate, and I attended my first tutoring session on October, 2012 in a small apartment complex in Southeast Fort Wayne. I helped tutor with the Reclamation Project for a total of three hours, though I found it best to divide my three hours into two 1.5 hour increments to accommodate my demanding work and school schedule. The two 1.5 hour tutoring sessions occurred on separate days. All children were between the ages of six to nine years, and I tutored them in understanding simple math concepts like addition and subtraction and in foundational English concepts like syntax, semantics, and
pragmatics. Aside from my relationship with my sister, I was interested in collaborating and connecting with the Burmese population in Fort Wayne because of my interactions with them at work. I am employed with Orthopeadices Northeast, where direct, meaningful communication is necessary to cultivate positive relationships with consumers and to provide excellent customer service. (AUNDREA I DON’T KNOW IF I SHOULD TAKE THIS OUT ALL TOGETHER OR JUST CHANGE IT) This failed communication is very frustrating, but it is something I wanted to improve.
I hoped that I could learn more about the Burmese culture and their methods of communication by working with a segment of their population in a more intimate setting. Thus, I would be better equipped to effectively serve Burmese patients at work. This idea of taking the time to learn about another’s culture is a great example of inclusive leadership. The world is becoming smaller due to globalization, and being open-minded, relating to, and communicating with someone from a different culture will help me grow as a leader.
My Experiences Tutoring Young Burmese Children
The small Southeast Fort Wayne apartment complex housed an after-school care facility that was operated by two co-directors. The directors were Americans that spoke fluent Burmese. Both directors and approximately 20 Burmese children were present on the first night I arrived to help tutor; however, Chris was not present. At first, Chris’s absence made me feel anxious, alone, and out of place because I wasn’t familiar with anyone there, and I felt uncertain of how everyone would perceive me because my cultural values, norms, and way of life was quite different than that of the Burmese. Not to mention I was surrounded by a herd of rowdy children who were speaking in a language I did not understand. I was overwhelmed.
I assumed this first evening would consist of meeting with the directors and reviewing my role in assisting with The Reclamation Project. However, I was greatly mistaken. When the directors finished explaining my roles and responsibilities, I immediately was introduced and begin working with the children. One boy in particular, a third grader, took an interest in me. He confidently approached me, took my hand, and asked if I would sit next to him and help him with his homework. I was truly surprised on how confident and open this little boy was to new people and experiences. He opened himself up to me immediately by asking questions, and he was truly engaged and interested in the learning process. At the end of my first session, this young boy said he could not wait for my return the following week. Interacting with this child and tutoring him for just an hour and half on the first day taught me more than I thought I would ever learn about the Burmese population and their culture. I was surprised by how well most of the young children spoke English and how well they explained their language to me. One little girl even taught me how to say, “Hello!” and, “Goodbye,” in Burmese. Although I initially felt anxious, alone, and out of place, I began to feel calm, welcomed, and even important at the end of the first evening. It turned out to be a fun and enjoyable experience.
My second evening tutoring the Burmese children was even better than my first experience, considering how much more I learned. This time around, I chose to work with another young child. She seemed quite shy because she was sitting alone, and she looked as if she was struggling with her homework and needed help. As I walked toward the young girl to introduce myself and tutor her, one of the directors stopped me and told me I was going to be challenged because the young girl spoke very little English. I decided I was up for the challenge. The young girl just smiled at me as I took a place next to her and introduced myself. As I reviewed the worksheet in front of her, I found the assignment was to rewrite the given sentences correctly. I asked her if I could help her with the worksheet in front of her, and she nodded – although I suspected she did not understand what I was saying. At first, I tried to explain what to do by pointing at every word and making writing motions with my hand. I then asked her if she understood, and she smiled, nodded, then started to draw a picture where she was supposed to rewrite the sentences. I knew my first method of communication and attempt to explain the homework was not effective, so I tried again. This time, I took the hand with which she was drawing and pointed at every word in the incorrect sentence. I then put her pencil down where she needed to write the incorrect sentence correctly. Although the homework assignment was difficult and took a significant amount of time to complete, this method seemed to work. We were able to move through each and every sentence together, correcting any improper punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors. This experience – and that of the boy – drastically changed my perceptions and assumptions of the Burmese population.
My Perceptions of the Burmese Population: Before and After
After hearing about the Burmese gentleman urinating in the laundry mat (Neumeyer, 2010) and the spitting occurrence in the Ricker’s gas station here in Fort Wayne (Donaldson, 2010), I had the preconceived notion that the young Burmese children were messy and lacked manners that were in accordance with the American culture, much like the people in the news stories. I also was quite concerned the language barrier between the children and me was only going to serve as a significant road block in our communication and that we would allocate more time attempting to interpret and understand what each other was saying rather than making progress on homework assignments. I was not entirely sure what to expect from this experience, and I was skeptical of how I could become a more effective communicator and relate to the Burmese population. Did nine year old children really have the capacity to teach me how these skills?
However, these youngsters were not anything like the people in the stories that Neumeyer and Donaldson presented. All the children were very polite and eager to learn. They also were very playful and interactive after their homework was completed. The language barrier – as it turned out – was not a significant road block, as I thought it would be. Although I did have some trouble communicating with the young girl, we found a way around the language differences. I found the children were pleasantly behaved, and their behavior aligned with that expected of Americans.
How this Experience Relates to Work
Through working with The Reclamation Project to tutor the young Burmese children in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I now have an open mind when I helping a Burmese patients. I am better able to communication with them, and they more frequently explain insurance information, and obtaining health information from them. In retrospect, I see that I let Donaldson’s and Neumeyer’s stories influence my perception of the Burmese people because they urinate and spit in public places. However, working with these children has given me a different perspective on the Burmese population. I benefitted from this experience also because it reinforced the fact that not everyone learns in the same way. Initially, the little girl with whom I helped to correct the sentences did not understand what I was trying to explain, so I was forced to turn to a new method of teaching. Similarly, the way I like to train a person is not always the best way. It is imperative I find a way to explain various concepts in such a way that is most beneficial to the individual and accommodates their unique learning style. Being adaptable in my training methods will help me to be an inclusive leader, and it will enable me to set myself up for a globalizing marketplace.
Reference List
Donaldson, Laura (2010). Sources Say Some Burmese People Spit And Urinate In A Ricker's Store. Indiana News Center NOW. Retrieved from: <http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/87512467.html>
Neumeyer, Jeff (2010). Laundry To Pay $2,500 To Burmese Center In Discrimination Complaint. Indiana News Center NOW. Retrieved from: <http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/91860589.html>
The Reclamation Project (2012). The Reclamation Project. Retrieved from: <http://thereclamationproject.tumblr.com/about>
Abstract
I collaborated with the Reclamation Project to tutor young Burmese children in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to complete my cultural immersion project. Throughout this paper, I will explain where my tutoring took place and my reasoning for selecting this activity. I also will describe in detail my outlook on the Burmese population in Fort Wayne before this activity and how it changed following the completion of this activity. Finally, I will illustrate how this activity relates to my everyday life
Intercultural Experience Assignment
Have you ever felt alone or excluded because you were considered a minority? Have you ever felt anxious or uncertain about the future? Have you ever felt out of place because you have been judged by others? I felt alone, excluded, anxious, uncertain, and out of place during my collaboration with The Reclamation Project when I tutored young Burmese children. However, this experience and these emotions …show more content…
allowed me to immerse myself into a different culture and broaden my global perspective. Additionally, tutoring young Burmese children with the Reclamation Project in Fort Wayne, Indiana, opened my eyes to another way of life, different cultural norms and values, and it affected my perception of Burmese people. The activities in which I and the young children participated and our personal interactions had great implications on my professional and personal development.
My Motivation for Working with the Burmese Population
My sister Chris, occasionally works with The Reclamation Project, a faith-based organization that promotes the integration of resettled refugees into the Fort Wayne, Indiana, community (The Reclamation Project, 2010).
She had been encouraging me to help with one of their missions, where I would tutor young Burmese children and assist with their homework assignments. After some consideration, I agreed to participate, and I attended my first tutoring session on October, 2012 in a small apartment complex in Southeast Fort Wayne. I helped tutor with the Reclamation Project for a total of three hours, though I found it best to divide my three hours into two 1.5 hour increments to accommodate my demanding work and school schedule. The two 1.5 hour tutoring sessions occurred on separate days. All children were between the ages of six to nine years, and I tutored them in understanding simple math concepts like addition and subtraction and in foundational English concepts like syntax, semantics, and
pragmatics. Aside from my relationship with my sister, I was interested in collaborating and connecting with the Burmese population in Fort Wayne because of my interactions with them at work. I am employed with Orthopeadices Northeast, where direct, meaningful communication is necessary to cultivate positive relationships with consumers and to provide excellent customer service. (AUNDREA I DON’T KNOW IF I SHOULD TAKE THIS OUT ALL TOGETHER OR JUST CHANGE IT) This failed communication is very frustrating, but it is something I wanted to improve.
I hoped that I could learn more about the Burmese culture and their methods of communication by working with a segment of their population in a more intimate setting. Thus, I would be better equipped to effectively serve Burmese patients at work. This idea of taking the time to learn about another’s culture is a great example of inclusive leadership. The world is becoming smaller due to globalization, and being open-minded, relating to, and communicating with someone from a different culture will help me grow as a leader.
My Experiences Tutoring Young Burmese Children
The small Southeast Fort Wayne apartment complex housed an after-school care facility that was operated by two co-directors. The directors were Americans that spoke fluent Burmese. Both directors and approximately 20 Burmese children were present on the first night I arrived to help tutor; however, Chris was not present. At first, Chris’s absence made me feel anxious, alone, and out of place because I wasn’t familiar with anyone there, and I felt uncertain of how everyone would perceive me because my cultural values, norms, and way of life was quite different than that of the Burmese. Not to mention I was surrounded by a herd of rowdy children who were speaking in a language I did not understand. I was overwhelmed.
I assumed this first evening would consist of meeting with the directors and reviewing my role in assisting with The Reclamation Project. However, I was greatly mistaken. When the directors finished explaining my roles and responsibilities, I immediately was introduced and begin working with the children. One boy in particular, a third grader, took an interest in me. He confidently approached me, took my hand, and asked if I would sit next to him and help him with his homework. I was truly surprised on how confident and open this little boy was to new people and experiences. He opened himself up to me immediately by asking questions, and he was truly engaged and interested in the learning process. At the end of my first session, this young boy said he could not wait for my return the following week. Interacting with this child and tutoring him for just an hour and half on the first day taught me more than I thought I would ever learn about the Burmese population and their culture. I was surprised by how well most of the young children spoke English and how well they explained their language to me. One little girl even taught me how to say, “Hello!” and, “Goodbye,” in Burmese. Although I initially felt anxious, alone, and out of place, I began to feel calm, welcomed, and even important at the end of the first evening. It turned out to be a fun and enjoyable experience.
My second evening tutoring the Burmese children was even better than my first experience, considering how much more I learned. This time around, I chose to work with another young child. She seemed quite shy because she was sitting alone, and she looked as if she was struggling with her homework and needed help. As I walked toward the young girl to introduce myself and tutor her, one of the directors stopped me and told me I was going to be challenged because the young girl spoke very little English. I decided I was up for the challenge. The young girl just smiled at me as I took a place next to her and introduced myself. As I reviewed the worksheet in front of her, I found the assignment was to rewrite the given sentences correctly. I asked her if I could help her with the worksheet in front of her, and she nodded – although I suspected she did not understand what I was saying. At first, I tried to explain what to do by pointing at every word and making writing motions with my hand. I then asked her if she understood, and she smiled, nodded, then started to draw a picture where she was supposed to rewrite the sentences. I knew my first method of communication and attempt to explain the homework was not effective, so I tried again. This time, I took the hand with which she was drawing and pointed at every word in the incorrect sentence. I then put her pencil down where she needed to write the incorrect sentence correctly. Although the homework assignment was difficult and took a significant amount of time to complete, this method seemed to work. We were able to move through each and every sentence together, correcting any improper punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors. This experience – and that of the boy – drastically changed my perceptions and assumptions of the Burmese population.
My Perceptions of the Burmese Population: Before and After
After hearing about the Burmese gentleman urinating in the laundry mat (Neumeyer, 2010) and the spitting occurrence in the Ricker’s gas station here in Fort Wayne (Donaldson, 2010), I had the preconceived notion that the young Burmese children were messy and lacked manners that were in accordance with the American culture, much like the people in the news stories. I also was quite concerned the language barrier between the children and me was only going to serve as a significant road block in our communication and that we would allocate more time attempting to interpret and understand what each other was saying rather than making progress on homework assignments. I was not entirely sure what to expect from this experience, and I was skeptical of how I could become a more effective communicator and relate to the Burmese population. Did nine year old children really have the capacity to teach me how these skills?
However, these youngsters were not anything like the people in the stories that Neumeyer and Donaldson presented. All the children were very polite and eager to learn. They also were very playful and interactive after their homework was completed. The language barrier – as it turned out – was not a significant road block, as I thought it would be. Although I did have some trouble communicating with the young girl, we found a way around the language differences. I found the children were pleasantly behaved, and their behavior aligned with that expected of Americans.
How this Experience Relates to Work
Through working with The Reclamation Project to tutor the young Burmese children in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I now have an open mind when I helping a Burmese patients. I am better able to communication with them, and they more frequently explain insurance information, and obtaining health information from them. In retrospect, I see that I let Donaldson’s and Neumeyer’s stories influence my perception of the Burmese people because they urinate and spit in public places. However, working with these children has given me a different perspective on the Burmese population. I benefitted from this experience also because it reinforced the fact that not everyone learns in the same way. Initially, the little girl with whom I helped to correct the sentences did not understand what I was trying to explain, so I was forced to turn to a new method of teaching. Similarly, the way I like to train a person is not always the best way. It is imperative I find a way to explain various concepts in such a way that is most beneficial to the individual and accommodates their unique learning style. Being adaptable in my training methods will help me to be an inclusive leader, and it will enable me to set myself up for a globalizing marketplace.
Reference List
Donaldson, Laura (2010). Sources Say Some Burmese People Spit And Urinate In A Ricker's Store. Indiana News Center NOW. Retrieved from: <http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/87512467.html>
Neumeyer, Jeff (2010). Laundry To Pay $2,500 To Burmese Center In Discrimination Complaint. Indiana News Center NOW. Retrieved from: <http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/91860589.html>
The Reclamation Project (2012). The Reclamation Project. Retrieved from: <http://thereclamationproject.tumblr.com/about>