Financial security

Freedom of speech
Equality of opportunity
Self-reliance
Patriotism
Tolerance
Freedom of religion
Individual initiative
Concern for the less fortunate
Racial Equality
Family
Justice
Acceptance
Sexual Identity
Respect
Social order/stability
Values Time required – 25 minutes
Objectives
1. To identify values.
2. To identify individual differences within the same culture.
3. To explore ways that individual cultural values influence our perceptions of those
from other cultural backgrounds.
4. To discuss how and why values differ.
5. To discuss the possible consequences of judging the values held by those from
another culture based on our own cultural perspectives.
Materials
1. Values Handout for each group.
2. 16 blank index card for each group.
Directions
1. Break into groups of 3-4 students.
2. Handout Value Handout and 16 index cards to each group.
3. Ask one student in each group to write down all of the values from the handout,
one per index card.
4. Have the groups read over the values and try to reach consensus on a ranking
order for the cards, based on what they believe to be the most valued cultural
values. You may keep a list of values your group would like to add or delete by
writing them on a piece of paper. You may share these later, but they should not be
included in their ranking.
5. Reconvene the groups and ask them to share their rankings, and identify the
rational they used to prioritize their values list. Allow them to share any additional
values their group identified.
6. If most of the groups were able to agree on the values priorities, ask the large
group to try to reach consensus on a final prioritization. If, however the small groups
disagree with each other’s priorities and can identify solid reasons for doing so,
allow the differences to remain, pointing out that our experiences can lead to
different priorities and that such an experience should be used to learn about
differences rather than demanding that there is be “one right answer.”
Debriefing
1. What happened when your group began sorting values?
2. What happened when your group identified values that were not included or want
to eliminate values?
3. What happened as you discussed personal factors that influenced what you
valued?
4. How did you feel about the values chosen for the list?
5. Were there differences of opinions that generated strong feelings in you
personally?
6. How does this exercise relate to the speakers’ comments on how we are
socialized?
8. What will you take with you from this exercise?
Adapted from an activity in The Whole World Guide to Cultural Learning, by J.
Daniel Hess