Becoming a Skilled Cultural Learner: A Bridge into your Host Culture

Marti Smith

We navigate cities of relationships

You CAN learn your way around a culture and be comfortable there

You can learn to love people in ways they recognize

With the learner’s attitude, anyone can build relationships of trust and understanding

Cultural Helpers

be a learner

Research can mean so

many things

What is ethnography?

Ethnography is learning from people, finding out what makes them tick, expressing interest in what is important to them, and

letting them teach you to see the world from their point of view.

What is ethnography?

Ethnography aims for their categories

What is ethnography?

The Ethnographic Process

1. Make observations2. Find people to talk to3. Start conversations4. Build rapport / trust5. Ask questions6. Write things down7. Pool what you learn8. Respond to what you learn

What is ethnography?

Get in the

game

Participant observation

Others will receive you as you show you want to relate to them

Participant observation

Every society has layers andboundaries

Social Stratification

We want to know which boundaries are the most meaningful.

Social Stratification

Identity

Social Stratification

People are tied together

in relationships

Social Structure

This culture under construction

Social dynamics

Get invited in

Cultural Helpers

Start a conversation

Cultural Helpers

Ask questions (and listen aggressively)Cultural Helpers

Direction and detours

Cultural Helpers

Descriptive (open-ended) questions are a good place to start

Grand Tour: broad overviewTell me about…

Mini Tour: more detailed explorationCan you help me understand more about…

Experience and Example: Can you share with me when …

Asking Questions

Using different kinds of questions helps you gain a broad perspective

StructuralI’ve heard… you mentioned… are there others?

ContrastWhat are the differences between…?

Folk tales, stories, jokes, songs, proverbs, life histories, etc.

Asking Questions

Recording information helps you to process what you are learning

Taking Notes

ART Fine artsASI Associations/institutions CLS Class/caste/

communityCMN CommunicationDAY Daily routine DEC Decision-makingDEM Demographics/

statisticsECN EconomyEDC EducationENT Entertainment and

recreationETH EthnicityEVG History of “E”EVT Events (not holidays)FAM FamilyHEO HeroesHOL HolidaysHST History & cultural

changeJOK JokesKIN Kinship

LNG Language/dialectLDR LeadershipMAR Marriage MIG MigrationMOD ModernizationNBR Neighborhoods/regionsNET Networks OCC OccupationOFF Offensive/aberrant behaviorPOL Politics and gov’t structuresPRB Societal problems REC ReceptivityREO Region of originRLB Religious beliefsRLP Religious practicesRLO Religious occupationsSEC SecularizationSTR Stories and mythsSTS Status, prestigeURB UrbanizationWEN Worker entry strategies

Taking Notes

Work together to

interpret your findings

Interpreting Findings