CULTURE AND LEARNING

(EDU 3106)
Chapter1:Culture and Diversity Groups
in Malaysia

1.1 CULTURE

1.1.1 The Meaning and Concept of

Culture

Cultureorculturederived froma sanskritlanguage namely buddhayah,formed

frombiddhiword(kindnessormind)-defined asmatters relatedto
kindnessandmind.

InEnglish:culture isderived from Colere -Latin

languagethatmeanprocessorwork.

Kamus Dewan(2007) :

culture meancivilization,civilization,progressofthoughtsandsensible.

Culturalmeanentire lifestylewhich encompassesway of acting,behaveandthink.

Culturalisalso all activityresultandcreationwhich

purportsmaterialorspiritualityof certainsociety.
Accordingto Koentjaraningrat :

Cultureisoverallthinkingandproductof mankind resultthatbased onlearning

process.

Culturecontain7primary elements:

religion andreligious ceremony

systemandcommunity organization
knowledge system
language
aesthetic
economic system

Accordingto Herskovitscultureis somethinghereditarybyfalldeclinefrom

one generationto onegeneration,thatthen mentionedas super organic.

Accordingto E.B. Tylor in the Primitive Culture, 1871c(A.AzizDeraman) :

Culturalin termsofanthropologyisoverall thatcomplexwherein
itcontainedknowledge,belief,aesthetic,moral,law,customs and
traditionsand otherabilitywhich founda person asa memberofsociety.
According to a.AzizDeraman :
Cultural attributeisuniversalstillin termsof the paradox.
Cultureimportant featuresina group:

cultureneed to belearned
shared
global
could be inherited
variable
havingsymbolic element
theexistence of semesterview

1.1.2 Components of
Culture
MATERIAL

NON-MATERIAL

Referring to society
creation that is real
and concrete.
E.g. : house, clothes,
foods

abstractcreations that
inherit from one
generation to next
generation.
E.g. : belief, customs
and traditions, values
traditional dance.

KAU
M

MELAYU

INDIA

CINA

IBAN

KADAZA
N

MAKAN
AN
Nasi
lemak

Tosai

Kuih
bulan

Ayam
pansu
h

Noonso
m sada

PAKAIA
N

Zapin
TARIAN

Bhrata
natyam

Tarian kipas

Tarian
Ngajat

Tarian
Sumazau

5 Key Elements of Culture

SYMBOLS

LANGUAG
E

VALUES
AND
BELIEFS

Is anything withmeaningto societythat sharesculture

Usually it isphysical object.
Example:keris (courage or brave)

: merah ( brave, happiness)

: pottu (spirituality)

Communication tooltocommunicateorallyornon-verbal
Playing a key rolein relationshipsbetweenmember of the community.( slang)

Culturestandard thatdeterminehow people evaluate goodness, beauty and desire

which become a general guidelines in a society.
Value : describes what should be done (abstract and can be shared)
Beliefs : explaining what it is actually (conclusion about the past and forecast about the
future)
Example : Respect the eldest

NORMS

TECHNOLO
GY

Rules or the regulation become habit, which is expected to be

followed by every member of the society
Associated with the rules and expectations that guide the
behaviour of a member of the community.
transferred through the language from one generation to another
informally.
Proscriptive norm - outlining what not to do
Prescriptive norm explain on what need to be done

An artifact and methods used in everyday life of a social group.

Is a concept of practical knowledge and equipment to improve
energy efficiency and environmental changes for human
consumption.

1.1.3 Importance of Understanding

the Concept of Culture to Teachers
Teachers are responsible to create
unity among students.
Teachers can apply the elements of
culture to the students.
Students will become more familiar
with the culture in Malaysia.
The values of respecting other
people's culture will exist in students.