Today was the first actual lesson for SES. Unfortunately, my mood during the first part of the lesson was deeply affected because I forgot to read up on the two articles necessary to facilitate discussion. The lesson was interesting enough though, so I guess it's still quite all right.
What exactly is cultural intelligence? Cultural refers to the ability to "understand how to encounter new cultural situations, judge what goes on in them and make appropriate adjustments in order to act and behave effectively in those otherwise disorienting circumstances". Or at least, that's what was said in class. To me, cultural intelligence can be simply understood as "knowing how to act in front of different cultures", which is in essence exactly what the given definition is saying.
Do I have cultural intelligence? Well, if anyone had asked me that question before I attended today's lesson, I would have confidently said "Yes". Coming from a Japanese and Chinese background, I have had alot of insights to the Japanese culture and Chinese culture, and the differences and similarities between them.
For example, they are both similar in their attitude towards the number: 4. Yes, quite particular indeed. In fact, Japanese hospital wards never contain the number 4 (from what I have heard from my Japanese teacher). The reason behind this is that the number 4 has a close resemblance (in reading) to the word "death".
One thing that is different in Japan, and that I find very interesting, is that seniors (even if only 1 year older) are treated like god. When a junior happens to see a senior, he would politely give way to him, and bow as he passes along.
With that kind of background knowledge, coupled with my narrow mind, it was obvious that I thought I had CQ.
After today's lesson, I finally realised how wrong I was.
For one, the world isn't confined to just Japan, Singapore and China. What about America? What about India? Vietnam? Iran? Russia? All these are countries whose cultures are totally foreign to me. This is where I fail in the "Knowledge"-competency of CQ.
Further more, do I have the interest in knowing about the other cultures? Frankly speaking, no. Unless I am attending an immersion programme and my pride is at stake. This is where I fail in the "Drive"-competency of CQ.
Additionally, I have never experienced other cultures much before, and thus am unsure on how to switch and adapt to different situations. This is where I fail in "Strategy" and "Action".
I have just mentioned 4 things in the previous few paragraphs, that is "Knowledge", "Drive", "Strategy" and "Action". This is in essence the bulk of what we learnt today. Cultural intelligence, according to Mr David Livermore can be formulated into these 4 competencies. "Knowledge" being how much one knows, "Drive" being interest and confidence, "Strategy" being that ability to plan beforehand on how to behave and reflect, and "Action" being the capability to adapt to different situation. This seemed like the important part of the lesson.
This is where my belief of cultural intelligence starts to veer dangerously off course.
I do not believe that cultural intelligence can be formulated just like that. From what I intepret of the lesson, it seems as though Mr David Livermore is saying this:
"Knowledge" + "Drive" + "Strategy" + "Action" = "CQ"
This makes CQ look like some math equation, which is the totally wrong way of approaching CQ. Or at least that's what I think so. You may have "Knowledge", "Drive", "Strategy" and "Action" but it does NOT give you "CQ" by default. I would like to think of CQ as something to be learnt by experience. Something that one lacks at first, but one hones through the years through various exchange and immersion programmes.
What I am saying, in a nutshell, is that the only way CQ can every be gained, is through experiential learning.
After the lesson, another thing left in my mind unanswered was this: Is CQ useful? Well, since I plan to study abroad in the future, I guess it's useful for me... BUT. Is it useful for everyone? Even for that poor student in school? Even for that person who loves Singapore so much he doesn't want to step out of the country?
I think that although "cultural intelligence" is called "cultural" intelligence, I think that it can be applied similarly to not only different cultures, but different social status even within a country. In other words, the acceptance and tolerance needed for interaction between Chinese and Malays is one and the same as that between the poor and the rich, the privileged and the underprivileged. Thus, I strongly feel that CQ will be useful for every single Singaporean, and in fact every single Earthling!
Having attended this lesson and read the relevant article, I know feel confident about my knowledge on CQ. From now on, I will try to grasp any opportunity that allows me to expand my knowledge on the different cultures.
Oh, and now I know: I am not that culturally intelligent after all, but I am willing to learn.
Akira Makino
3S201
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