As a German Studies Major, not only is it common sense to take a World Languages and Cultures class, it is mandatory. Throughout my studies of the German language, which began more than six years ago, I have discovered that if one decides to study a language they must also study the culture. Without studying the culture of the language one is studying, one becomes culturally illiterate (a term coined by German professor Sabine Smith), meaning that they may be able to speak the specific language with fluency but they socially cannot function in the country because they know nothing of the culture. Through this course, I am hoping to prioritize learning the following language and culture skills that will aid me in my future career in international business:
- How to identify the fundamental concepts of language, cultural identity, and intercultural competence.
- How to prepare for a study abroad program or job.
- How to reflect upon my own cultural identity as well as my attitude toward the cultures of others.
In order to prioritize these three objectives, thus meeting my goals for the semester, I plan on doing the following (each strategy corresponding to the objective with the matching number)
- Attend class and follow along with lessons and in/out of class work while investigating themes and topics further on my own.
- Search for a program in Germany, or possibly a country I have never been to, and interview a professor who teaches the language of the country to find out about what needs to be done to apply, as well as what cultural shocks I may experience.P
- Pay attention to how I view my own culture and heritage and talk to my friends about their cultures while making note of the differences and similarities between the two.
To conclude, I’d like to ask my audience why they are interested in this class. Is it because you, much like myself, want to avoid being culturally illiterate? If not, what is your justification for taking this class, other than just requirement?
Laura The Explora 
Overall, a strong essay! Rather casting your motivation negatively as “avoiding being culturally illiterate,” might it not be more helpful to state it positively: “building cultural literacy”?
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That’s a good point, Professor McLaughlin, that I hadn’t thought about. I guess the reason I have only ever been exposed to the term “cultural illiteracy” is because my German professor meant it to be so negative and harsh that we would really develop the desire to build our cultural literacy. I wonder if looking at in a different, more positive way could help motivate students better than looking at it negatively.
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