🌍 Unlearning Cultures: Myths & Facts

Students brainstorm and list common beliefs, stereotypes, and assumptions they hold about their partner culture. They explore where these ideas come from (movies, social media, family stories, school lessons) and share in small groups to identify patterns in how misconceptions form.

Students research their partner culture using reliable sources, news, documentaries, and academic articles to gather factual information about daily life, values, traditions, and diversity. They create a comparative chart or infographic showing myths they identified earlier alongside verified facts, noting where the two diverge.

Students conduct a real-time video call with their partner class to ask prepared questions about everyday life, family, school, traditions, and what they wish others knew about their culture. Partners share authentic perspectives and students take notes on surprising discoveries and how lived experience differs from assumptions.

Students analyze the data from their research and interviews to identify patterns in where stereotypes come from and why they stick. They examine the role of media representation, limited exposure, historical narratives, and confirmation bias, then document their findings in a research brief or case study.

Students share their myth-versus-fact findings and stereotype analysis with their partner class through a shared digital platform or asynchronous forum. They read and respond to partner insights, asking clarifying questions and offering their own observations about how understanding has shifted.

Students write a personal reflection journal entry on how their assumptions have changed, what surprised them most, and what they now understand about their own biases and the diversity within and between cultures. They consider concrete steps they can take to challenge stereotypes in their own communities.

Students create a final presentation (slides, infographic, or exhibition) showcasing their journey from initial assumptions to verified facts, key insights from partner interviews, and their analysis of why stereotypes persist. They present to their class and reflect on how the exchange changed their perspective on intercultural understanding.