Some people may argue that all university students should be required to take at least one class that teaches the culture of a country other than their own. However, I have a different idea. From my point of view, to study the culture of other countries is not good way for the university students. I have two reason of answering that.
To begin with, there are more effective ways to learn about other cultures. If we only learn other cultures from teachers, we may misunderstand about the culture of the teachers' country. Because we can not know whether they correctly understand their cultures. In my case, I do not understand perfectly about culture of my country although I have been living in Korea when I was born. To know about other cultures, of course, is important for anyone. But we can learn other cultures without studying in university. We can know them by making friends from other countries and visiting other countries. If we do that, we will know various cultures. I think that these ways are more effective.
Another reason that I disagree that all university students need to study over one class which is to learn about the culture of other countries is that knowledge in other culture is not practical. We do not have many chances of meeting people from other cultures in our cultures. For instance, I studied about the culture of France when I was a high school student. But I have never me the French in my country. Even if I met French, I would not use my knoweldges about France. Because they may need some help for sightseeing or living in Korea.
On the other hand, in case of New York City, the citizen of New York can meet a lot of people from other cultures. People who have a different culture, however, will match with the culture of the New York. So, the citizen does not use their knowledge.
In supports of these, I disagree with taking the classes which learn about other cultures in university. There can be no denying the fact that learning about them may help avoid and settle disputes between different cultures and understand our own cultures better. Nevertheless, I do not agree with this dispute. We should keep in mind two thing; one is we have more effective ways to learn about other cultures, another is acquaintance in other cultures is not practical. |