Summary: First, we had an orientation to the course, during which you learned what you will be able to do by the end of the course, as outlined on the AL2 Class Information Sheet. Then, we studied and discussed the layers of diversity of a person’s identity/personality, language, and culture. You also learned more about your classmates and me.

How will my grade be calculated?

• Homework 30% (30 points)         
• Nobel Peace Prize FreeRice 10% & 10% Online Class Participation (20 points)
• Final Presentation 20% (20 points)
• Midterm Paper (Report)  20% (20 points)
• Class Participation 10% (10 points) 

Your Free Rice Learning Program

Please create an account on FreeRice and join our group AL2 2025 Intercultural Comm. using the class code provided in class. For your English motivation, you can choose any of the English categories and study as you wish. Your goal is to achieve 4,000 correct answers by the last class at your current pace, but practice occasionally every week. This is 20% of the class grade, and you will help feed children around the world who are hungry for free, sponsored by the United Nations and the World Food Programme, which won a Nobel Peace Prize!

Following the orientation, we worked on the communication framework and standards below in new pairs and used the questions in worksheet two to explore the unique aspects of culture:

The Diversity Wheel That Shapes Identity

Following the orientation, we worked on the communication framework and standards outlined below in pairs, using the questions in Worksheet Two; this lesson is adapted and based on Paul D. Coverdell’s publication “Building Bridges: A Peace Corps Classroom Guide to Cross-Cultural Understanding.” 

Features of Culture Statements: 

• No one is exactly like me.
• I have many things in common with the members of my family and community.
• Every person in the world needs some of the same things I need.

Features of Culture Questions:

• Celebrations: What kinds of celebrations are important in your family? In your country?
• Greetings: How do you generally greet people you don’t know?
• Beliefs about hospitality: How do you show hospitality in your community? In your school? In your home?
• The role of family: Is there a particular age at which you celebrate an important event in your life with your family or community?
• Attitudes about personal space and privacy: How important do you feel it is to have your own space and privacy?

Framework and Standards: 
Everyone has a culture(s). It shapes how we see ourselves, others, and the world. 

Essential questions: 

• How does culture shape the way we see ourselves, others, and the world?
• How does my culture shape me?
• Why is it important to understand culture?

Lesson adapted from

Homework due by 1 p.m. the day before Class 02: Please take notes related to the question prompts in this link.  Worksheet #2: Your Identity: Everyone Has a Culture–Everyone is Different in your own words, with at least two pages of notes. You can include information about yourself that is unique to you, not related to the questions.  Worksheet #1: Features of Culture has 30 themes related to your unique identity.

 Making colorful drawings about yourself and your identity will be very helpful. You can also upload photos of yourself that you would like to 1 share with the class. This homework is due before the third period at the end of lunch on Tuesday, before Class 02.