Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions

His point of view is commercial and economical.

So we need to be careful with this point of view.

We normally have the instinct that all people are all the same. But this is not!

Geert Hofstede has some dimensions. When we understand these dimensions, we are capable to be more effective when we interact with people in other countries.

This will be a very good thing when I’m approved to do my internship abroad.

When I’m approved, I will definitely check mr. Hofstedes dimensions.

What I think is important to remember is the fact that one country doesn’t have one culture or the other way around.

We need to remember this!

Within one country, there are so many differences at different areas. So I really have one remark. Can we really trust the dimensions of mr. Hofstede? I think it’s barely possibly to show all the differences and still have those dimensions.

But then again, this is a very handy instrument.

This can be very helpful when we are in contact with other cultures.

We are all studying to be a teacher, so this is very handy for us.

If we have a lot of diversity in our classes, we will be able to place it more easy.

We will have the opportunity to understand it more.

The Power Distance Index is the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequal. This show us that we that the hierarchy isn’t always fair, but that we just need to accept it. The king of a country vs. a gipsy. The gipsy just need to accept the fact that the king is placed higher in the hierarchy. Also I have one remark here. It’s not because the king is placed higher in that same hierarchy, that he is happier then the ones who have a lower place in the hierarchy. I want to remember this remark for my later job. It’s not because I have children in my class who don’t have so much chances as the rest, that they are not happy. We can still motivate those children. I’m sure!

Individualism and collectivism. Here you have a big difference. For example: the Belgian people have the idea: everything for ourselves. When you go to Argentine, it’s totally different. There they have the idea: everything for the group. When we take this to our classes, we can play with this fact. We can promote working in groups but then again, we need to motivate the one of the collectivism to work on their owns.

Off course you have differences in gender. This is something that depends on the classes itself I think. Off course, there is a large difference. But to work with these differences, you need to know your own class.

Uncertainty Avoidance deals with a society’s tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity. It ultimately refers to man’s search for truth. As becoming teachers, we need to motivate our student to be self certain. We need to give them a motivation to be ambitious. This Is one of the goals I set for myself.

Long Term Orientation:
- thrift;

- perseverance.

Short Term Orientation:

- respect for tradition;

- fulfilling social obligations;

- protecting one’s ‘face’.

As a teacher we need to promote both orientations! All the aspects are very important. So we may not forget this!

The last thing I want to say, is this:

As you can see on the image (at the beginning of the blog), culture stands between human nature and your own personality. By this sais, I’m convinced that our cultures build our personality for a part.

We need to have respect for those cultures. This is what makes us all a little more ourselves.