New Journal Entry #11

[Mark Kligman]

After reading Sociocultural Factors, I learned about different approaches and unique ways of treating and accepting cultures. This was very interesting to me because it provided me with an insight that I had never considered myself before. The section about stereotypes was particularly interesting because it was a topic that I could relate to, especially since I am a foreigner myself with a different culture. The section discussed how stereotypes are noticed by people because they judge those who come from different backgrounds and cultures, while they disregard the stereotypes that could be derived from their own culture and beliefs. Francois Lierres's suggesting article for his fellow Frenchmen, who was planning on traveling to the US was very entertaining and pointed out how people in the US are unaware of their own stereotypes that they have created while mocking french people. The second culture acquisition concept hit very close to home for me, mostly because of acculturation, which is the claim that a person who is learning a second language usually develops a second identity. Cultural shock can make a serious impact on someone who goes through acculturation, especially if his original culture and identity is questioned and mocked by the people of a different country and culture.