Cultural Understanding Project

The purpose of this assignment is to have you become more culturally

proficient and more self-aware. Knowing your own culture not only gives
you more information about the world you live in, it also helps you relate to
others more effectively by better understanding yourself.
Choose an existing culture this cannot be your own. You cannot pick an
American culture/people or one of the dominant cultures of Western
Europe or Canada. You do need my approval, check the syllabus for the
due date.
You might find it helpful to use the Minorities at Risk Website
(http://www.mar.umd.edu/mar_data.asp). Under MAR Qualitative, choose
from the dropdown list all regions and go from there.
This project is NOT an outline you need to have detail and to give me
enough information to demonstrate your understanding. However, use the
form below. In a you will put the answers for the people/culture you have
chosen; in b, you will put the answers for your own beliefs/perspective;
and, in part c you will add a detailed comparison of your beliefs with those
of the people/culture you chose. How do your beliefs differ and what is your
explanation for the differences?
Make sure you complete the form in detail for each of the questions.

As a guideline, you will most likely need multiple paragraphs for each
response in order to have sufficient information. Of course, some questions
will require less, when for example, you are identifying their language or
yours. Even with language, however, you need to provide information as to
whether or not it is the dominant language, a dialect, a different language
from the majority, etc.
 Cultural Understanding Form
1. What people/culture did you choose? What is their name?

a. Name of the people/culture you chose

b. Name of your culture this is based on the culture of your family how

you grew up. It is not based on the USA, or MN, WI, etc. This part is very

personal.

c. Compare a & b, including why you think they differ or are similar for

example, does it matter is you are part of the dominant culture whereas

the people you chose are not?

2. What do they call themselves?

a.

b.

c. Hint: Do others respect their name or call them something different. How

did their name come about imposed by others, derived from

3. What is their language?

a.

b.

c.

4. Where do they live?

a.

b.

c.
5. What is their environment like? For example: arid, rain forest, mountainous,

valley, etc. What impact does it have on their culture?

a.

b.

c.

6. How is the society structured? How is the countrys society structured and

where does the people you chose fit in that structure?

a.

b.

c.

7. How do they view women?

a.

b.

c.

8. How do they view children?

a.

b.

c.

9. How do they view elders/older generations?

a.

b.

c.
10. How do they view other cultures?

a.

b.

c.

11. What is their religion? Explain.

a.

b. Are they a religious minority? Are their views recognized?

c.

12. What do they value?

a.

b.

c.

13. How do they view the world?

a.

b.

c.

14. What is their main means of getting information about others or the world?

a.

b.

c.
15. What is their history? Do they share a common bond based on an historical

event (volcano eruption, war, discrimination, etc.)?

a.

b.

c.

16. How are they socially organized? For example: by nuclear family, in extended

families, by tribe, individually, a patriarchy? Be sure to give detail.

a.

b.

c.

17. How is the concept of family understood? Is it a narrow or broad definition? Is

it discriminatory?

a.

b.

c.

18. Are they discriminated against? How?

a.

b.

c.

19. Do they discriminate against others? How?

a.

b.

c.
20. How are they governed both locally and nationally? Is there a tribal leader; is

he/she elected; are they represented in the states government or are they

essentially voiceless politically?

a.

b.

c.

21. What is the dominant way of settling disputes? For example: negotiation,

revenge, violently, peacefully. Be sure to give detail.

a.

b.

c.

22. What is the most interesting information to you that you discovered about this

people/culture?

a.

b.

c.