Assignment: Preparing for Study Abroad
Part 3 : self-assessment Paulien Van Acker
Outcomes after watching I have learnt…
the videos and analysing I have learnt it thanks to…
them
1. Recognise and explain I have learnt that there are
the variety and always some significant
complexity that exist differences between
among individuals in cultures, even when you
social groups. think you know everything.
Some behaviours and habits
are so different from your
own, and I mostly learned
this in the course of
International
Communication Skills last
year. I will be the ‘outcast’
and it can be hard to make
friends and feel at home in
the beginning.
3. Describe ways in which We have seen in class that a
people (re)construct lot of prejudices are the
and/or (re)negotiate consequence of just
their own and others’ ‘hearing stories’ that aren’t
multiple identities true. Stereotyping and
depending on judging is passed on
experiences, encounters, through oral stories. People
contexts, and with a strong opinion that
interlocutors. was formed through one
bad experience start talking
and in that way the ball
starts rolling. I think people
who had good experiences
should tell too, so that not
prejudices consist of
I still have to learn…
because…
The impact of being among
a different culture and the
culture shock I will
experience. It’s important
to prepare yourself when
going abroad, even when
you think the culture
doesn’t differ as much. But
when you have never been
abroad for a long time, like
myself, it’s impossible to
know what being in a
completely different culture
really does to you and what
the impact is. I think I will
only be able to learn that
while actually being abroad.
It’s a bit the same as my
previous answers. Not really
having been to another
country for a long time, I
don’t have the experiences
that others might have. I
definitely not a person to
listen to someone else and
judge based on that
opinion. But I will how
people in England
stereotype other cultures
and how different their
opinions may be from
Belgians. I’m sure that there
 negative aspects.
4. Recognize and explain have learned, mainly
the problematic nature of through talking with people
using certain terms (e.g. and honestly asking them.
ethnicity, race, nation) to
When I went on a trip to
frame identity. Berlin, I was in an amicable
atmosphere, and I felt less
restricted to ask question to
for example ask questions
to a fellow Muslim student.
Sometimes, when you
working closely in a group
assignment you can also ask
these questions. But it was
mainly outside the ‘school
walls’, you can ask question
and make conversation
more easily.
6. Interpret what people say I have learnt, that we as
about their culture as a Belgians, want to come over
personal observation, as rather professional. We
and possibly as evidence care a lot about our
of what they wish others reputation as good
to see about themselves. workforces and some about
being bright students.
7. Recognise when For a module of talent
misunderstandings may development we had to
be the result of prepare and answer
stereotyping, question about a woman
ethnocentrism, who had trouble with
essentialising and stereotyping her whole life.
prejudice. She was disappointed in the
way people see ‘Africa’ as
one culture and hated the
assumptions some people
exist a lot of
misunderstanding and
stereotypes about Belgians
as well.
In this area, Liverpool is
comparable to Belgium I
think. I’m sure that
Liverpool, just like many
cities in Belgium, is very
multicultural. I believe they
have the same believes
concerning tolerance and
terms that are sensitive or
might be considered
hurtful. Being part of an
international experience, I
think I will still learn from
different people with
different nationalities and
backgrounds.
Although we are a
multicultural class, here in
Belgium, Belgians make up
for the biggest part. When
going on Erasmus, I will be
confronted with a lot of
different cultures, and I will
learn a lot more. Hopefully
they will become my friends
and they will tell me in the
beginning what absolutely
isn’t true and what is. As I
get to know them, I will of
course notice myself what
perceptions are totally
misjudged.
Like every one of these
aspects, I feel like you really
learn when you experience
it, or being put in the
middle of it. Until now I
have only read or heard
stories about stereotyping,
and of course I know some
that are said about certain
cultures. But you can learn
made. I’ve learnt through through really asking
this case that people want people.
to tell stories that tell the
opposite, so
misunderstanding can be
avoided.