The Culture Conundrum: Classroom Challenges in the Asian Millennium

Abstract

―Those who know nothing of foreign languages
know nothing of their own.‖ Johann W Goethe. This study
will aim to highlight the importance of learning,
understanding and assimilating cross cultural awareness
and developing tolerance towards other cultures and
cultural mores in the context of a technological explosion
through the use of cyber-media and globalization. Firstly
the importance of cultural understanding in an era of Free
Trade Agreements (FTA) and how institutions and
organisations will need to reinvent themselves will be
discussed. This is necessary in order to become more
competitive in order to survive in a world dominated by
the emergence of Asian Economies as Powerhouses, given
the economic recovery in Asia, much faster than in the
West with more V shaped countries; which has led the
west to use the term, Asian Millennium and the
significance of the G 20 summit rather than the G8 of the
past. The next focus will be on how the paradigm shift in
business models has morphed, the example of ―Lenovo‖
and ―Siemens‖ models will be highlighted, where
business no longer happens to be a brick and mortar
industry where money alone matters. What matters more
now is how businesses can realign their models to become
more competitive as the challenges of globalization pose
more demands on businesses and their ability to adapt to
cross cultures and tune themselves. This study will argue
that understanding cultures better and developing business
models based on cross cultural awareness and tolerance
will be the keys for both educational institutions and
global corporations alike to succeed in the Asian
Millennium and for the west to be aware of Asian cultures
now!