Culture and the Classroom

Culture and the classroom

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:21:08 GMT

by Milli Moriarty.

I had the experience of living in hope international university for four months and this has been very interesting. One of the best things about Hope was the cultural diversity as there were students from all around the world including Morocco, Sweden, Korea, and many more. I had the best time talking to people from Korea and learning about where they are from and also how they are finding Fullerton. I found the Korean culture fascinating as it is completely different to both American culture and the UK. Whilst talking to the Korean students about American culture it made me more aware of it and made me realise things that I hadn’t before. Leaning about different cultures is essential as ‘Such knowledge promotes personal growth while enabling you to learn new things about your culture.’(Ekstrom, 2022) This experience has made me reflect back to my culture and I would love to learn more about the Welsh culture and Welsh history.

In Hope I had the opportunity to attend culture groups, and everyone shared some facts about where they were from, and they shared snacks from their home. I had the opportunity to talk about the UK and more specifically Wales which was great as most Americans didn’t know where Wales was or that it was even a place so not only did I learn about American, Korean, Japanese and French culture but I also got to tell people about my culture. ‘By expressing our cultural identity, we keep our traditions, stories, and customs alive for future generations.’ (Learning for Life and Work, 2024)

Living in Hope International university was out of my comfort zone however I think this was the best decision I have made as I met so many people from different backgrounds. I think living on my own in a place I am unfamiliar with also has helped me as a person to be stronger and more independent. This experience has changed me for the better as it pushed me to meet new people I might have never spoke to in the past and it had also helped me learn about culture in the best way which is through conversation not a book or online.

Ekstrom, S. (2022) What Are the Benefits of Understanding Different Cultures? Available at: https://blog.learntourism.org/understanding-different-cultures?hs_amp=true (accessed: 19/12/2025)

Learning for Life and Work. (2024) Learning for Life and Work. Available at: https://www.learningforlifeandwork.co.uk/post/understanding-the-benefits-of-cultural-identity (accessed: 19/12/25)

Living in Fullerton

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:46:20 GMT

by Milli Moriarty.

Living in Fullerton

This semester I had the opportunity to study in Fullerton, California and it has been the best experience. It was interesting adapting to the culture, and I think I adjusted well and quickly. Even though everyone in Fullerton speaks English I found it difficult occasionally to understand what people were saying as some things they would talk about, we do not have in the uk, but I loved learning about their culture. ‘Fullerton is a suburb of Los Angeles with a population of 141,278. Fullerton is in Orange County and is one of the best places to live in California.’ (NICHE, 2025)

I also learned about the Filipino culture as I celebrated thanksgiving with a Filipino/ American family. This was very interesting, and it was good to learn about as ‘Today, around 321,000 Filipinos live in Los Angeles County and 400,000 reside in other Southern California counties.’ (Villegas, 2024)

Living in Fullerton for the past 4 months has been amazing as it it a truly diverse place with so many different cultures, here is a quote from CSUF about the different ethnicities in the university: ‘Ethnic Distribution – Fall 2023 Census

- Hispanic: 52.3%
- Asian/Pacific Islander: 21.2%
- White: 15.2%
- Multi race, non Hispanic: 3.6%
- Black/Unknown: 2.5%
- Pacific Islander: 0.2%
- Native American: 0.1%’

- (CSUF Career center, 2025)

I was very nervous about the food in America as I know it is very unhealthy and they eat a lot of processed foods ‘ Researchers estimate that up to 70% of the U.S. diet is composed of foods that are ultra-processed’ (NHLBI, 2025) ultra processed foods are extremely bad for your health and are ‘linked to a greater risk of:

high blood pressure
cardiovascular disease
heart attacks and strokes
early death.’ (Taylor, 2025)

However as part of my voice and movement class we had to do some exercise so I decided to join the gym and I think this worked out very well for me as I know the food I was eating wasn’t the best but I counteracted this by living a healthy lifestyle and joining the gym was one of the best decisions I made as it was also good for my mental state.

I can’t wait to return back as I had such a good time and I felt like I learned so much in my classes, they have a completely different way of teaching and at first it was difficult to get used to but after a few weeks I had improved and was learning a lot.

Bibliography

NICHE. (2025) Los Angles: Fullerton. Available at: https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/fullerton-orange-ca/ (accessed: 15/12/25)

Villegas, M. (2025) LA County is home to the largest Filipino, other AAPI communities in US. Available at: https://usa.inquirer.net/149963/la-county-is-home-to-the-largest-filipino-other-aapi-communities-in-us (accessed: 16/12/25)

CSUF Career Center. (2025) Diverse Students | CSUF Career Center. Available at: https://www.fullerton.edu/career/recruiters/diverse-students.html (accessed: 17/12/25)

NHLBI. (2025) Spotlight on UPFs. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/2025/spotlight-upfs-nih-explores-link-between-ultra-processed-foods-and-heart-disease (accessed: 17/12/25)

Taylor, V. (2025) Ultra- processed foods: how bad are they for your health? Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/ultra-processed-foods#The_latest_research_on_ultra-processed_foods_and_heart_health (accessed: 17/12/2025)

Sharing Home and Industry Perspectives in the Classroom

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 01:49:19 GMT

by Morven Montgomery.

One aspect of studying at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), that I particularly valued was the opportunity to share my experiences back home, not only in terms of classroom culture but also industry practice. This was especially evident in my Stage Management class, where discussions often extended beyond theory into how the industry operates in real professional settings.

During these discussions, I was able to explain how through my university and a range of different work experience both in and out of the United Kingdom differed compared to the United States. In return, I gained insight into how the American theatre industry approaches organisation, communication, and production hierarchy. These exchanges helped raise awareness among classmates that industry standards are not universal and can vary significantly depending on cultural and professional contexts. Research supports that "integrating real world professional perspectives into teaching enhances students' understanding of global practice and employability" (Jackson, 2015).

Being able to contribute international industry knowledge made classroom discussions more meaningful and interactive. While my accent initially highlighted that I came from a different background, it was the comparison of practical industry experiences that encouraged deeper conversation and mutual learning. This blend of classroom learning and professional insight helped me appreciate how study abroad experiences prepare students to think beyond local norms and adapt to global industries.

References;

Jackson, D (2015) 'Employability skill development in work-integrated learning: Barriers and best practice', Studies in Higher Education, 40(2) pp. 350 - 372