There are several characteristics of culture. Culture is learned, shared, symbolic, integrated, adaptive, and dynamic.

Terms in this set (7)

• #1. Culture is Learned.
• #2. Culture is Symbolic and Shared.
• #3. Culture Mediates Nature.
• #4. Culture is All-Encompassing.
• #5. Cultures are Integrated – But Not Perfectly.
• #6. People Use Culture Actively and Creatively.
• #7. Culture Can be Adaptive and Maladaptive.

Cultural Traits and Tradition Cultural traits are things that allow one part of a culture to be transmitted to another. For example, the famous football chant of ”Ole, Ole, Ole” likely arose in Spain but has since become a cultural trait of many soccer fans around the world.

Culture is the lifeblood of a vibrant society, expressed in the many ways we tell our stories, celebrate, remember the past, entertain ourselves, and imagine the future. Our creative expression helps define who we are, and helps us see the world through the eyes of others.

Key Takeaway. Organization cultures are created by a variety of factors, including founders’ values and preferences, industry demands, and early values, goals, and assumptions. Culture is maintained through attraction-selection-attrition, new employee onboarding, leadership, and organizational reward systems.

Culture is a combination of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, values, and behavior patterns that are shared by racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups of people.

5 Ways to Overcome Cultural Barriers at Work

1. Learn a few key phrases. Because clear communication is essential for effective functioning, it is necessary that each of your employees understand what your clients and customers need.
2. Learn your client’s culture.
3. Promote appreciation of cultural differences.
4. Be open to trying new things.
5. Be accommodating.

By learning and understanding different cultures you understand why people do things the way they do. When you identify with other people, you sympathize with their situation. This facilitates understanding and prevents misunderstandings.

Understanding cultures will help us overcome and prevent racial and ethnic divisions. Racial and ethnic divisions result in misunderstandings, loss of opportunities, and sometimes violence.

It helps dispel negative stereotypes and personal biases about different groups. In addition, cultural diversity helps us recognize and respect “ways of being” that are not necessarily our own. So that as we interact with others we can build bridges to trust, respect, and understanding across cultures.

Understanding a country’s culture is a sign of respect. It also helps to foster effective communication, a vital factor in business success. Values and attributes such as frugality, trust and endurance may be viewed differently in other countries.

Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. The word “culture” derives from a French term, which in turn derives from the Latin “colere,” which means to tend to the earth and grow, or cultivation and nurture.

Examples include cars, buildings, clothing, and tools. Nonmaterial culture refers to the abstract ideas and ways of thinking that make up a culture. Examples of nonmaterial culture include traffic laws, words, and dress codes. Unlike material culture, nonmaterial culture is intangible.

6 Slick Techniques for Teaching Culture in the Foreign Language Classroom

1. Expose Your Students to Authentic Materials.
2. Compare Students’ Own Culture with That of the Target Language.
3. Introduce Your Students to Live Native Speakers.
4. Food: Always a Good Idea!
5. Teach Memory-friendly Songs.

In contrast, non-material culture does not include physical objects or artifacts. Examples include any ideas, beliefs, values, or norms that shape a society. Social norms are group-held beliefs about how members should behave in a given context.

‘Sharing culture’ relates to social networks that grow informally within a region between diverse stakeholders and have as their main goal to co-produce, manage, and share resources, time, services, knowledge, information, and support based on solidarity and reciprocity rather than economic profit.

An example of cultural transmission can be seen in post-World War II Japan during the American occupation of Japan. There were political, economic, and social changes in Japan influenced by America. Some changes were to their constitution, reforms, and consumption of media which was influenced by American occupiers.