When a Culture is Being Taught in Other
Countries
Lintang Puspitasari (STKIP PGRI PASURUAN)
What effects of the existence of foreign
culture in foreign countries would possibly bring?. That seems to be an
interesting discussion to put into the surface when a discussion of culture is
held. Meanwhile, there would always be more than one definition for culture.
According to Edward Sapir (1956), culture is a system of behaviors and modes
that depend on unconsciousness. There are bunch of cultures in all across the
globe, as in the culture of Indonesia. Indonesian culture is known for its
richness from the beliefs, attitudes even to its music instruments. Regardless
of the fact that the culture has been shaped from time to time it still remains
as what it originally is. Apparently this has attracted foreigners who have
ever come to Indonesia to learn the culture. Apparently, this is all where it
all begun for the existence of Indonesian culture in foreign countries, as in
the University Of Ohio in the U.S. That, the writer would like to analyze what
effects could this bring into the surface not only for those foreign students
but also for those Indonesians and whether this costs any harm to the both of
them or not.
The University of Ohio provides the study
of Indonesian culture with respect to the Indonesians for they are amazed for
its culture. They provide music class for Indonesian traditional music
instruments and a class for Indonesian language. The university claimed that
even if they have just provided two studies did not mean the study range would
just stop there. There are still the possibilities of adding new studies in the
near future. Based on the report shown in BBC online article (2015), this
university has sent their people to Indonesia and they found themselves being
amazed that it has dragged them into studying the Indonesian culture. In fact,
there are tons of students who would take the study for their very own liking.
Those students, just like its university, find themselves liking the culture
easily. While they found it unique about angklung, a traditional music
instrument from a suspended wooden bamboo played by shaking the instrument,
they found it just as unique and challenging to study the language. In
addition, these students also get the knowledge that moving out to Indonesia to
work would be a good chance for them as foreigners. Indonesia is known to be
very welcoming towards foreigners. Not to mention, they most likely to seek an
English course from the native speaker of its language when there is the option
of being taught by foreigners or pure Indonesian in learning English, takes
place.
In
this very case, there would not be any harm being carried out to those
foreigners who study Indonesian culture. Instead, they would be expanded in
knowledge for they have the knowledge of new culture and that would only bring
them nothing but a good chance in the future. As of for the Indonesian people,
if they are fully aware of the fact that university students from a huge
country like the U.S. would willingly learn their culture, the courage of
learning their culture would be brought out of those Indonesian people. On the
other hand, the worst possibility of the case would be about stealing. Because
culture is like a house, if foreigners know our language meaning they have the
key to the front door, to all the rooms inside. But then again, knowing that
this is foreign students that are being discussed, they would most likely be
given the knowledge of respecting other countries and their cultures while
learning them. For this very matter, the Indonesians would be more watchful of
the case that they would really take it into consideration. They would have
themselves to learn more about their culture while, at the same time, keeping
what is theirs.
To sum it up, there would always be the
good and bad effects in anything even in the existence of a culture in foreign
countries. There would always be the cost to pay for other countries having our
cultures being taught in their countries. While the effects of this case could
most likely only bring the good ones for the foreign students, as in stated
above, the Indonesians would get the both of them. However, there would lay a
good courage to fight for what is theirs. Therefore, both the foreigners and
Indonesians should know where to put themselves wisely in the situation.
References
Russo,
2014. Other Cultures in Foreign Countries. January, 2014. (Online)
https://en.m.blogspot.com/Other_Cultures_In_Foreign_Countries.
Accessed on October 25, 2015.
Steele,
2015.Culture Of Indonesia. Saturday, october 23, 2015 (Online).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_Of_Indonesia.
Accesed on October 25, 2015.
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