Com2601 Portfolio

AFL1501-14-S1-4T

CARLA VILJOEN

53623843

FINAL PORTFOLIO

Ubuntu – an idea whose time has come!

An anthropologist proposed a game to children in an African tribe. He put a

basket full of fruit near a tree and told the children that whoever got there first

won the sweet fruits. When he told them to run, they all took each others hands

and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats.

When he asked them why they had run like that when one could have had all the

fruits for himself, they said, ‘UBUNTU how can one of us be happy if all the

other ones are sad?’ (‘UBUNTU’ in the Xhosa culture means: ‘I am because we

are.)”

Osani Circle Game - taken by Jean-Pierre Hallet

INTRODUCTION

The description of AFL1501 as a subject is as follow:

“Purpose: This module will be useful to students who want to develop

competencies in interacting successfully in a multicultural society. These

competencies include the ability to demonstrate their sensitivity to their own

language usage and that of others and interact across cultures with knowledge

and respect.”

Cultural competence refers to an ability to interact effectively with people of

different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.

Cultural competence comprises four components:

(a) Awareness of one's own cultural worldview,

(b) Attitude towards cultural differences,

(c) Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews, and

(d) Cross-cultural skills. Developing cultural competence results in an ability to

understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across

cultures.

Using the above guidelines, this is what I will try to illustrate in my portfolio as

well.

I need to familiarize and get to know my own language and cultural background

better, so that I can have better understanding of other individual’s cultures and

beliefs that I come in contact with on a daily basis, whether it is in a formal or

informal setting.

By learning and understanding my own cultural background better as well as...