THE CULTURAL IMMERSION

Phuoc D. Nguyen

Cultural immersion is a method to learn cultural experiences and cultural behavior from best cultural practices; learners practice, penetrate, live, and behave appropriately in diverse cultural environments to acquire this very special skill based on international cultural practice experiences and combine it with the cross-cultural leadership theories/models.

Smith (2015) states, “The purpose of cultural immersion is discovery. It allows for in-depth learning about behaviors, needs, and experiences of culturally different others by immersing oneself in the culture of the other for a sustained period. Immersion experiences are varied. They include reading ethnographies, observing and interacting with culturally different others in their communities, and visiting sites with historical and cultural significance to a particular demographic. Interactions include individual and group activities.” (p. 10). “The immersion programs in foreign cultures to help individuals gain cultural sensitivity and cultural knowledge.” (Caligiuri, 2006, p. 223). There are many ways to acquire cultural immersion skills. Leaders in training should focus on assigned geographical areas which include certainly cultures, languages, beliefs, and religions. They observe community life, general and religious cultural behaviors, group behaviors, beliefs, and local customs; interview and survey cultural needs; from the results of the cultural needs survey they project their cultural immersion learning plan/strategy in detail; then they practice cultural immersion from experienced global leaders. Additionally, they visit and attend museums of arts, culture, archeology, and history at local sites aiming to understand deeply about local cultures. Cultural interaction is implemented throughout the cultural immersion learning process.

Hipolito-Delgado, Cook, Avrus, and Bonham (2011) suggest, “the phases of cultural immersion, including goal setting, interaction, and evaluation.” (p. 198). Barden & Cashwell (2013) indicate, “Critical Factors of Cultural Immersion include both structural factors, such as the duration/location of immersion, language barriers, frequency of cross-cultural interactions, group size and pre-trip planning, and process factors, such as facilitator support, emphasis on reflective processes, attending to group dynamics, expectations and personality characteristics of group members.” (p. 290). The goal-setting phase should be implemented after observing and surveying cultural needs. Goals might include objectives of cultural immersion training outcomes before, during, and after the cultural learning process; which and how many skills will be acquired? How many communities that learners will live in? The timeframe of the cultural immersion learning process, etc. The interaction phase as the above mentioned supplement Barden & Cashwell’s (2013) process and structural factors. Finally, the Leadership coach will evaluate the outcomes of the cultural immersion learning process on achieved cultural immersion skills, application, interaction, experience, objectives, and goals; and implement a learners’ opinions survey.