What is cultural competence?
Cultural competence describes someone’s ability to engage in and adapt to diverse settings ethically, respectfully, and respectfully. It also speaks to one’s ability to reflect and be aware of the influence that their own and other cultures may exert on their attitudes, beliefs, and practices – both in their personal and professional lives. Cultural competency is an essential and valued asset in an increasingly globalized world. Individuals must take the time to examine their worldviews, values, and beliefs so that they may more meaningfully interact with others. Recognizing that others have unique thoughts and experiences and perceive the world in different ways is a key feature of cultural competence. Cultural competence comes down to recognizing the value found in a diverse setting and how it can enhance our personal and professional lives.
Why is cultural competence important?
As citizens worldwide begin to engage more in multicultural settings, it is increasingly important to ensure we act with a sense of cultural awareness. Understanding where the people that we engage with come from, the languages they speak, and how they experience the world shows a willingness to step out of our framework to learn about others. Showing others that we are willing to take the time to get to know more about their lived experience opens the doors to cross-cultural understanding and empathy for ourselves, the wider community, and future generations. Suppose we do not show cultural competence or the values, knowledge, and beliefs that it encompasses. In that case, we stand to lose out on many potential connections (personal and professional) and the intrinsic value of engaging with people with different experiences from our own.
What actions can I take to make sure I am culturally competent?
Developing our cultural competence should be an ongoing process, allowing us to better engage with those around us. These are some ways you can be sure that you are acting with cultural awareness:
- Be sensitive to areas of cultural difference: When making statements or passing judgments, remember that you exist among people from all sorts of backgrounds. If your statements come across as prejudicial or judgmental, you might want to re-examine them.
- Be curious: Take the time to get to know the people you work with or meet daily. (Only when appropriate) Share stories and compare experiences.
- Embrace opportunities to learn: If you get the chance to participate in a special event, meal, or tradition, you might be richly rewarded. Take chances like this when they come and use them to understand how our lives can be improved through our interactions with others.
The role of language in cultural competence
Many of us know that language is a key to understanding culture – yet many people in the United States can only speak one language: research shows that a large majority of Americans with English as a home language can only speak English. In a country where over 10% of the population has Spanish as a first language, English-speaking Americans ought to make more of an effort to be able to engage in Spanish Language lessons are widely available in corporate and private capacities, and people can take group or private Spanish lessons. Language learning is not reserved for school students: Many courses are offered to adults and can be tailored to any need – courses are offered to those with beginner to advanced levels of Spanish. Language lessons can vary between formal certifications or informal private Spanish lessons, which can be conducted for groups or individuals.
Conclusion:
Being culturally competent is something that everyone should strive for, especially as the world we are living in grows increasingly more connected. Recognizing the value in and richness found in cultures different from our own allows us to see that diversity is something to be strived for, not shied away from. Learning a new language is one significant way in which people can immerse themselves in a culture that is different from their own. Many English-speaking Americans can only speak English, while a large population of Spanish speakers lives in the USA. Learning a new language opens avenues for engagement in our professional and personal lives and allows us to reframe our attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs.
