Video production and the cultural Kaleidoscope

While many programs and teachers have innovative curriculum ideas for developing cross-cultural competency, there still seems to be a tendency to focus on background information such as the geography, history, values, norms, attitudes and lifestyles of the target culture. Teachers assume that this background information will help students to more effectively communicate with people from other cultures. How can teachers properly educate students on the norms, attitudes and lifestyles of countries that are culturally diverse. English speaking countries such as Canada, United states of America, New Zealand, Australia and England are popular destinations for many study abroad programs and to teach students about culture in these countries without stereotypes would be an extreme challenge. To avoid stereotypes, education on the diversity of individual differences in one's own nation seems like an appropriate approach. Educators should approach the teaching of culture by giving students projects that let them discover the different attitudes, norms and lifestyles in their own country. With this understanding of the differences in their own country, students will learn to accept cultural differences while abroad. This paper will analyze culture and suggest how educators can incorporate cultural video projects into their curriculum to increase cultural awareness and facilitate the acculturation process while abroad.