Cultural Mailbox & Semester Unit Reflection (BB class) by Gary

BM4407

lipweichoo — 2025-08-07 12:26:35 UTC

It's been fun!

2025-08-08 00:07:21 UTC

I got misjudged due to my skin color(tan)

I hope that everyone will keep an open mind and not judge people based on looks and apperances

2025-08-08 00:17:04 UTC

While traveling overseas in Hong Kong , a shop owner assumed I was “kiasu” just because I’m Singaporean, expecting me to bargain hard. They were surprised when I shopped casually.

I wish more people understood that Singlish isn’t bad English, but a blend of languages reflecting our Singapore identity.

2025-08-08 00:17:05 UTC

In a secondary grp project, we were tasked to come out with ideas about games and activity for the freshmen. While brainstorming, I started giving wild ideas thinking that they will pitch in. However, the other people in my grp from another country just stayed silent. And apparently, in their culture, people will only present their best idea. Thus they didn't want to have any comment on my idea cuz they thought it was well polished.

2025-08-08 00:23:19 UTC

Once, I spoke to someone from an English-speaking country, and they asked how I learnt English that well if I was born in Singapore.

I wish that more people would learn that Singapore has many languages, but we mostly speak English.

2025-08-08 00:28:47 UTC

when renewing my passport in msia, i didn't know how to speak in malay as i've been studying in sg since young and he criticised me for not being able to communicate properly with him.

2025-08-08 00:31:27 UTC

I felt misunderstood when I spoke Singlish to a foreigner and they said I should “speak proper English.”

I wish people understood that Singaporeans speak Singlish as it’s a part of our identity, not because we aren’t fluent in English.

2025-08-08 00:31:36 UTC

While visiting my relatives overseas, I noticed a big difference in the way they communicate. Where they are more open about their opinions and are loud when they spoke. This was a huge difference from what I am used to in Singapore. Due to this I was more intimidated by them and more aware of how they perceived me.

Whenever I meet people from overseas they often assume that Singapore is a very strict country due to our laws and that we Singaporeans have no warmth. But i hope that they realise we have a strong hawker culture where we can share affordable diverse dishes at these places. Its not just eating, its a community and an identity for us. Its in out daily lives.

2025-08-08 00:31:40 UTC

Rafael

2025-08-08 00:31:42 UTC

When doing a project, i listened quietly to my classmates ideas, even when i disagreed, in my culture showing disagreement directly is rude,. They thoight i agreed with everything, but i was just being polite.

2025-08-08 00:31:44 UTC

There were few times i was having conversations with my customers at work who are from china and they were shock that i could speak fluent chinese and kept clarifying if i was from china.

I hope people understand that Singaporeans are able to use multiple languages to communicate

2025-08-08 00:31:54 UTC

when I travelled to Australia, my family and I spoke to people and they asked where I was from and asked how we have learnt the language, assuming we only can speak Mandarin.

I wish that people will keep an open mind and not assume that everyone knows how to speak mandarin in Singapore when we have different races and backgrounds here

2025-08-08 00:34:31 UTC

I was misjudged by someone just because he stereotyped me based on my culture without getting to know me

2025-08-08 00:37:34 UTC

A time I felt misunderstood due to culture

I was brought up by an Indonesian Muslim helper (instead of my parents) so I adopted many habits such as eating with my hands and even having a dislike towards eating pork. Even currently, I am better at eating with my hands than handling chopsticks, and know basic Malay/Indonesian :)

I would say I felt misunderstood because, coupled with the fact that I have tan skin, people would assume I’m mixed or Malay.

The feeling of being misunderstood is derived from the fact that despite being 100% Singaporean Chinese, this cultural diffusion made me ‘look’ a different race, though I would say this assumption isn’t entirely baseless hahaha

A cultural practice I wish others understood better

Do not feed Muslims pork :(

I was told by my helper that my family’s colleagues used to ‘accidentally’ give minced pork to her, and when she confronted them, they laughed and said it wasn’t that serious. She shared she felt deeply angry that these people caused her to ‘sin’ against the Muslim culture.

Thinking back in retrospect, I feel empathetic towards her feelings as it feels that her religion was tossed aside by these colleagues.

2025-08-08 00:50:45 UTC

I find researching for this module fun
When I got an A for my first presentation
When I didn’t get an A for my second presentation :(
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions and Eren Meyer’s Cultural Map
I appreciate you for dealing with us at 8am every week. We love you.

2025-08-08 00:55:46 UTC

This module was very useful and interesting. I liked using the hofstede's dimension and erin meyer cultural map to understand cultural similarities and differences. Thank you Mr Choo for making it easier for me to understand the frameworks and helping me when I'm in doubt.

Rafael

2025-08-08 00:58:16 UTC

My overall experience for this mod is that i have discovered that culture isnt just common sense, there are many ways to interpret culture and many ways to adapt to it

Thank you mr choo for being our teacher and showing us the wonderful insights of culture !

2025-08-08 01:00:46 UTC

This module was interesting and useful
learning more about the cultural for different countries
having to wake up for 8 am
Erin Meyer’s Culture Map:
- Communication - Direct vs. indirect communication styles
- Disagreeing - Direct vs. indirect confrontation styles
- Evaluation - Direct vs. indirect feedback approaches
Appreciate Mr Choi’s energetic energy when teaching every lesson despite it being this early in the morning and us being so sleepy

2025-08-08 01:05:10 UTC

The overall experience was fun

There’s been too many high points to count

A low point was when we got assigned our groups for ica3

I recall the hofstedes dimensions and how they’re only meant to be a general guide

Thank u Mr Choo for making this module interesting and coming to class something to look forward to

2025-08-08 01:05:43 UTC

1) I think the module is very interesting and would be useful for my career in the future

2) Applying the various framework and doing kahoot in class

3) Finding people to interview for ICA3 and Waking Up at 8am every Friday

4) Erin Meyer Cultural Map

5) Lesson was fun pls give me good grades :D

2025-08-08 01:14:02 UTC

I had fun learning about the different cultural dimension and how much i learned about the different cultures and their reactions towards situations (feedback, voicing opinions)
Researching about the different companies and their work culture in different countries.
It's fun yet challenging to be able to deliver my points about the different cultural differences between countries within 3 mins (mangaed to did it). And also having this class at 8 am :(
Erin Meyer and hofstede dimension
Thank you Mr choo for teaching me ib once again. It was really fun listening to you in class, what u taught are really relatable as well. Your tips and tricks are really helpful for me in presentations. And being able to challenge myself to think critically thru the "so what" qns u gave in class, making me learn more about the topics.