| As more or more people from different | | | | behavioural and attitudinal changes. |
| backgrounds, countries, cultures and religions | | | | Cultural competency is important in this day and |
| immigrate to foreign lands, those countries | | | | age for exactly the reasons cited in this article. |
| become an intercultural melting pot. In order for | | | | We, as citizens of planet earth, are no longer |
| the native people and the immigrant population to | | | | confined to our national and cultural borders. We |
| blend and create a thriving and successful | | | | mix with people from different cultures, ethnicities, |
| atmosphere both sides need to develop some | | | | religions and colours on a daily basis. In order to |
| sort of intercultural tolerance and understanding of | | | | make this intercultural experience work on all |
| the differences that may exist between them. An | | | | levels from education to business to government, |
| example of poor intercultural understanding, or | | | | people have to develop basic skills in intercultural |
| one based simply on stereotypes, is offered by | | | | communication and understanding. |
| the town of Herouxville in Quebec, Canada. | | | | In order to assist the officials at Herouxville, five |
| A declaration issued by the town in January 2007, | | | | basic steps to cultural competence are presented |
| which was designed to inform immigrants, "that | | | | below: |
| the way of life which they abandoned when they | | | | 1. Break Assumptions |
| left their countries of origin cannot be recreated | | | | Everyone makes or has assumptions about |
| here [i.e. Herouxville]". It then went on to state | | | | others. Assumptions are beliefs rather than |
| that the immigrant population would therefore | | | | objective truth and are usually influenced by a |
| have to refrain from their cultural norms and | | | | number of subjective factors. People need to |
| activities such as to "kill women by stoning them | | | | assess their assumptions and ask themselves |
| in public, burning them alive, burning them with | | | | why they hold those ideas or beliefs. |
| acid, circumcising them, etc." | | | | 2. Empathise |
| The declaration paints a rather sad picture of the | | | | In order to come to appreciate and understand |
| officials that administer the town and highlights not | | | | people from different cultures, empathy is vital. |
| only their rather insular outlook but a world view | | | | Through putting yourself in someone else's shoes |
| of "others" based on crass and frankly incorrect | | | | you come to see or appreciate their point of |
| stereotypes. To simply consider that anyone | | | | view. |
| from another country (in this case more than | | | | 3. Involve |
| likely a Middle Eastern or Asian one) regards the | | | | Involving others in your world and involving |
| stoning of women and burning them alive as part | | | | yourself in other's empowers and educates. Don't |
| of daily life derives from crude, and media led, | | | | build walls between people but learn from one |
| stereotypes of other peoples. | | | | another. |
| Stereotypes are at their most basic level a set of | | | | 4. Avoid Herd Mentality |
| assumed characteristics about a certain group of | | | | Herd mentality refers to a closed and one |
| people whose actual beliefs, habits and realities | | | | dimensional approach. Such a way of thinking |
| more often than not disagree with the imposed | | | | curbs creativity, innovation and advancement as |
| assumptions. Stereotypes are usually based on | | | | people are restricted in how to think, approach |
| factors such as exaggeration, distortion, | | | | and engage with people or challenges. Cultural |
| ignorance, racism, cultural factors or even | | | | competency can only develop if people are |
| historical experiences. Stereotyping is therefore | | | | encouraged to think as individuals, bring their |
| rightly seen as a negative way of seeing people. | | | | cultural influences to the table and share ideas |
| This is even true of what are called "positive | | | | that may be outside the box. |
| stereotypes". A positive stereotype is where we | | | | 5. Shun Insensitive Behaviour |
| use a blanket expression for a whole people, i.e. all | | | | People can and do behave in culturally insensitive |
| the Chinese are great at maths, all Germans are | | | | ways. By attacking someone's person, you attack |
| well organised or all English people are well | | | | their culture and therefore their dignity. This can |
| mannered. Although the intent behind the | | | | only be divisive. Cultural competency is based |
| statement is positive, it still does not reflect the | | | | upon people thinking through words and actions to |
| truth. | | | | ensure they do not act inappropriately. When |
| What we have witnessed in Herouxville should not | | | | insensitive behaviour is witnessed it is the |
| be seen as an isolated incident. Such assumptions | | | | responsibility of all to shun it and ensure it remains |
| about foreigners exist all over the planet. | | | | unacceptable. |
| However, this does not make it right or | | | | 6. Be Wise |
| excusable. The message it does give is that there | | | | Wisdom is not called wisdom for nothing. People |
| is a lot of work to be done in order to educate | | | | need to be aware how to interact with people |
| people to become more culturally competent. | | | | with respect and knowledge. Cultural competency |
| Cultural competency is a term used to describe | | | | is essentially founded upon wisdom, i.e. showing |
| the ability to work, communicate and live across | | | | maturity of thought and action in dealing with |
| cultures and cultural boundaries. One achieves this | | | | people. Through thinking things out and have |
| through an instilled understanding of cultures on a | | | | background knowledge to intercultural differences |
| general level as well as an informed one about | | | | much of the communication problems witnessed |
| specific cultures on a more detailed level. As well | | | | within business could be avoided. |
| as knowledge it has to work in tandem with | | | | |