With the ever increasing globalization and inter-connectivity of the world, a significant need has arisen for greater understanding and better skills to communicate and interact across cultural lines. In many cities in the U.S. you will find dozens of ethnic communities, all from very diverse backgrounds and ways of viewing the world, all needing to do business together, build their communities together, and interact on a regular basis. Without experience and training in understanding different cultures and ways of viewing the world, such interactions are often hindered and unproductive. Those individuals, organizations and companies, on the other hand, who obtain broader cultural proficiency and communication skills are much more likely to succeed. They will be more effective in the workplace, marketplace and community.
We believe that the best way to become culturally proficient is through immersion in a community of the culture you desire to learn. Since there are many ethnic communities in the United States representing nearly every major culture and ethnic group in the world, we have an excellent opportunity to gain cross-cultural experience here in our own country, without a passport. In the Los Angeles basin alone, there are over 200 languages spoken as the primary languages in homes, and there are even more distinct ethnic groups represented. We within the Culture and Language Xchange therefore seek to place individuals within a unique ethnic community and in mentoring relationships with individuals and families of the focus language and ethnic group, designed to develop the cultural competency of all parties involved.
We believe that the wide variety of cultures around the world provide us a beautiful display of creativity and diversity. Each culture helps us to see the world through different lenses and contributes to a grater understanding of the world and our place in it. We recognize at the same time that each culture has its own flaws, and we all have a lot to learn from those that are different than us.
We believe that culture and language learning is best acquired through meaningful relationships and not merely through the transfer of knowledge. Important nuances of culture and language cannot be learned from a book, but must be experienced through relationships.
Culture and language only exist in the context of community, and thus they must also be acquired in the context of the larger community. We all should seek to better understand our community, as well as others, and actively contribute to the benefit of the community.
Culture & Language Xchange 