CDE Reflective Journal 1

This is my first time taking CDE this year, as I had opted for AACS last year, and did not have any chance to be exposed to this course at all. I was naturally keen and curious about what this course would entail and what I would learn when I embark on such a learning journey this year. I had also heard classmates talking about this interesting course last year as well, and was glad that there was an opportunity for me to take up these course.

On the first lesson on the course, we finally understood the importance of Cultural Intelligence, and that how a polite gesture in a country may turn out to be inappropriate or even obscene in other countries as well as cultures. The "OK" hand signal, connecting the thumb and forefinger and holding the other fingers straight, has obscene connotations in South American countries such as Brazil. It is therefore important to have Cultural Intelligence in today's contemporary world as we will be able to respect others by being wary and tolerant of the taboos and intolerably gestures in their culture or society. After accessing the wiki for CDE, I realised that the wiki is very detailed and does give us a deep and accurate insight of the stark differences between the eastern and western blocs in the world. For example, there are pages describing issues such as the stature of the Chinese women and the American election of 2008: widely controversial issues that are still discussed today. CDE does also requires us to present on topics we have chosen to our class, and that the audience are to question and engage the participants as well. As such, students have to do a lot of background information and make sure that they are adequately equipped against the audience's relentless questions to rebut the argument. I find it quite special as this course does ensure student participation, and that the teacher is not the only source of information, which serves as a huge contrast to the rest of our classes, where the teachers teach and there is reduced student's participation. Through expressing our viewpoints, we become more acutely aware to the cultural differences between the eastern and western culture as well.

What do I expect to benefit from the CDE lessons? I hope to delve and understand with greater depth about the cultural differences between the East and the West, as well as understand how the East and the West can cooperate and work hand-in-hand in times of crisis, despite being economic rivals in the global economy and arena. Through various learning platforms and opportunities such as the research paper, the class presentations as well as the consistent journal writing, we are able to put on our critical thinking caps on and demonstrate confidence and flair in raising our mature and valid opinions when experiencing global pressing issues such as gender inequality in both the western and eastern world, and how it is detrimental to the advance of both societies. Being well-read and well-versed in the issues that our fellow peers are discussing in class, allows us to raise objections or agree with their opinions as they showcase their insight and opinions towards a particular issue. It also allows us to be able to provide constructive feedback to our peer's speeches and point out the flaws or aspects worth commending about.

Although the course seems fun and enriching, I do habour some worries towards this course. Firstly, I do hope that this particular IHE course will not put too much emphasis in academic grading as all in all, it inevitably kills the students' interest. In my opinion, it should be tailored to suit our interest, and instead place emphasis on content to promote learning as well as interest in the subject. Also, there is a lot on student-initiated learning involved: which means that I must be studious and diligent in order to not benefit from these courses. I usually procrastinate most of the time and this would definitely affect my learning for the subject, should I not take steady action to curb my procrastinating habits.

Definitely, CDE is a course that I am looking forward to experience, and I hope to be able to pick up new information about the myriad of cultural aspects in both the eastern and western blocs around the world. These information will no doubt prove to be useful in the long run as we grow up and step into the global economy and arena.