This is an excellent self-awareness tool & it may also help the student develop better observational skills (other-awareness).  It's also another of those exercises that we might think teaches empathy, by making the student observe the other culture more closely.  No, it teaches ethics. A naturally empathic person may increase in empathy as a result of this exercise.  A person without the skill of empathy or a person in polarization will probably not (increase in empathy).  But ethics and self-awareness are great skills to increase! (To teach empathy, I am very fond of Empathy Bingo --tool #146)