Cultural awareness implies an understanding of how a person’s culture may inform their values, behaviour, beliefs and basic assumptions.

Cultural awareness recognises that we are all shaped by our cultural background, which influences how we interpret the world around us, perceive ourselves and relate to other people.

Key considerations to be culturally aware

• Be aware of your own cultural influences.
• Be aware of judging other people’s behaviour and beliefs according to the standards of your own culture.
• Be aware of making assumptions about cultural influences and applying generalisations to individuals.
• Understand that the behaviour and beliefs of people within each culture can vary considerably.
• Understand that the extent to which people adopt practices of their new country and retain those from their cultural background can vary within communities, even within families.
• Understand that not all people identify with their cultural or religious background.
• Understand that culture itself is a fluid entity, undergoing transformations as a result of globalisation, migration and the diaspora influence.
• Increase your knowledge about different cultural practices and issues through cultural background information sessions and/or resources and cultural awareness training.
• Understand the importance of appropriate communication.

You don’t need to be an expert in every culture or have all the answers to be culturally aware; rather, cultural awareness helps you to explore cultural issues more sensitively.

To check how culturally aware you are, click here and do the quiz. After submitting your answers come back here to check the answers.

See you soon.

• Elena Alija García
• Laura Alonso González
• Fernando Valdés-Bango García

The interviews will take place on Friday 19th in room 3.1 at 12.00.

Remember that only the people who passed the written part of the exam do the oral interviews. If you want to see your exam ask for me in the Information Desk on Tuesday 23rd at 4 p.m or contact me via e-mail.

Sonia wanted to say goodbye to you all and she sent this e-mail to me because she couldn’t post it herself.

Thank you Sonia.

Thanks to you, teacher. and to all my classmates for making from every lesson a funny adventure. This year is being a bit hard for me (as I told you I am preparing “oposiciones”) so this English class was a good way to bring my stress to a halt. Plus I learned very useful things and I had the chance of meeting really nice people. I also have to admit that all these months I got addict to this blog…I used to check it very often to look for everybody’s comments or for new resources. Congratulations teacher on this successfull blog!Finally I want to say a “see you soon” (I don’t like to say goodbye) to all of you, including the teacher. I could not go to the last day of class (my exams are getting closer so preassure is on the increase. lol.)

In our lesson today, some of you wanted more and more practice. Well, I have a very close friend in EOI Avilés called Mª José who has some printable exercises you can do. I’m sure she will be delighted if you find them useful. Her blog is Shall we blog? If you want to do the printable exercises click here. Have a look at the other exercises she has created, and enjoy yourself.

Thank you, Mª José.

I also have to thank Carmen (EOI Mieres), Maria (EOI Oviedo) and Javier (EOI Luarca) for their patience and support. They are the ones who told me about ELLLO. I haven’t tried it myself, but since they recommended it, I’m sure it’s great. I’ve just added it in USEFUL LINKS.