Last summer is my best summer ever as I have spent my meaningful 7 weeks in a beautiful country called Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a Spanish speaking country located in the Central America bordered by Pacific Ocean to the west and Caribbean Sea to the east. To tell the truth, I never know about the country - Costa Rica until I was selected to join NUS Biodiversity Research Field Trip Summer Program. The Summer Program not only enhances my knowledge and experience, but also helps me to realize the importance of communication and the vital role of Emotional Quotient (EQ) in communication.
The exchange experience and culture exchange with the local in Costa Rica had taught me a lot of things and widens my perspective on things. One of the intercultural scenarios that had inspired me was the classroom culture in the University of Costa Rica. By comparing Singapore’s classroom culture and Costa Rica’s classroom culture, there are some cultural differences. Firstly, unlike in Singapore, the professors in Costa Rica will be more engaging with the class (may be due to small classroom size which is like our secondary classroom). In the class, the professors will also encourage the students to ask questions, apply the knowledge they gained and think critically on different perspectives about the topics they discuss, then challenge and debate with the students about their opinions to provoke more intellectual breakthrough among themselves. This is very much different from Singapore in which the students generally take in all the facts that we learn in university and forget most of it after the examinations.
Another thing that impressed me about the students and professors in Costa Rica is that they are very passionate on what they are doing and studying.
Another thing that impressed me about the students and professors in Costa Rica is that they are very passionate on what they are doing and studying.
You can feel their enthusiasm and being influenced by it, this will motivate you to enjoy the learning process. What the outcome they would like to see is that you understand what you are learning and enjoy every single learning process through asking questions and thinking.
From what I have experienced in Costa Rica, there are a few tips that can improve in effective intercultural communication. To be competent in intercultural communication, you have to be open-minded to a new culture, do not discriminate, do not do assumptions on people and always be proactive and take the initiative to talk to people. It is the same case when you first get to know a friend. If you keep shielding yourself in your own bubble, you will know no one in the end.
In my opinion, to be immersed in a new culture, you can learn a lot of things from the people of the other culture and realize the differences. The best part is that you will have a brand new view on your life and improve your personal development through the experience you went through and learnt from the other culture. For example, I have learnt to be more helpful and to be more engaging in the class. =)
In my opinion, to be immersed in a new culture, you can learn a lot of things from the people of the other culture and realize the differences. The best part is that you will have a brand new view on your life and improve your personal development through the experience you went through and learnt from the other culture. For example, I have learnt to be more helpful and to be more engaging in the class. =)
