4.1: Section 1-

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Peter Jones, Debra Miles & Narayan Gopalkrishnan
James Cook University via James Cook University

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You can’t really know the ‘self’ fully until you have engaged in critical reflection.41

The previous unit suggested that an understanding of racism and privilege required going beyond abstract, conceptual knowledge about these issues. A critical understanding involves reflection on our own situations and experiences, connecting these to the broader concepts and dynamics under consideration. This is also true for our broader goal of intercultural learning. Intercultural awareness “is not about a passive absorption of cultural knowledge” which one then applies in intercultural interactions; rather, it requires ongoing self-examination and critical reflection about key aspects of one’s cultural self.42 A critically reflective framework helps to make explicit the ways in which culture shapes our values, beliefs, and worldviews. We’ll explore this further in this module.

Click here to watch the video: vimeo.com/250727434

Why is critical reflection important?

intercultural awareness ‘is not about a passive absorption of cultural knowledge’ which one then applies in intercultural interactions; rather, it requires ongoing self-examination and critical reflection about key aspects of one’s cultural ‘self.’