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? Midterm - Module 4-Communication in Multicultural Settingsb

The document discusses several key aspects of intercultural communication. It begins by noting that communication issues can arise from cultural differences in the global community. It then discusses two concepts important for intercultural communication - local communication based on cultural context, and globalization enabling more widespread international communication through technology. Finally, it states that the module will introduce strategies to improve intercultural communication competence in areas like understanding different language varieties and communicating effectively in a global society.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
29 views

? Midterm - Module 4-Communication in Multicultural Settingsb

The document discusses several key aspects of intercultural communication. It begins by noting that communication issues can arise from cultural differences in the global community. It then discusses two concepts important for intercultural communication - local communication based on cultural context, and globalization enabling more widespread international communication through technology. Finally, it states that the module will introduce strategies to improve intercultural communication competence in areas like understanding different language varieties and communicating effectively in a global society.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Communication issues arise as a result of cross-cultural interaction in the global

community. Intercultural understanding can be negatively impacted by cultural obstacles


that might obstruct communication. Some of these intercultural interferences include 1)
various cultural affiliations, 2) inferiority of one's culture, and 3) diverse cultural
communication patterns (Wakat, 2018). Cultural barriers exist due to the diversity of
perspectives in a global setting. In order to communicate effectively, we must make
certain improvements to these.

Our path to good intercultural communication begins with understanding the two key
concepts of local and global communication. Local communication is based on cultural
context, exposing the culture of those constructing their own identities in the community,
while Globalization paved the path for several human repercussions. The internet
quickly outpaced more conventional forms of communication because technology is
developing quickly. One can instantaneously engage with individuals online, read about
other cultures, and obtain research papers, publications, and articles from other
countries. Therefore, the function of international communication is to alter or bring
about changes in the local environment.

In this module, you will be introduced to many forms of intercultural communication and
strategies to improve your competence as an intercultural communicator. It focuses on
the different registers and varieties of language and their vital role in written and spoken
discourse. You will learn to communicate effectively in a global society and to achieve
effective global communication that could produce a harmonious and borderless
relationship with others.

Activities undertaken in this module will be complied with according to the date set. You
are expected to accomplish the activities within a week or two. In cases where images
in various forms are not viewable or attachments cannot be downloaded, please relay
the inconvenience to your teacher the soonest.

Keep the animo spirit burning!

PurCom_BSN102DiscussionsMM4.1 Intercultural Communication

MM4.1 Intercultural
Communication
Intercultural communication is the process of exchanging information and ideas among
individuals or groups from different cultural backgrounds. It is a critical aspect of global
communication because it enables individuals to understand, appreciate, and respect
different cultural perspectives. Intercultural communication plays a vital role in promoting
diversity, inclusivity, and cultural competence in today's globalized world.

Learning intercultural communication involves gaining knowledge about cultural


differences, understanding how to communicate effectively with people from different
cultural backgrounds, and developing the skills to negotiate cultural differences. It also
involves becoming aware of one's own cultural biases and assumptions and learning to
view other cultures objectively.
As an Approach to Effective Communication

According to science, each person is


genetically unique. Except for identical
twins, each person has a unique
genetic composition. This uniqueness
becomes even more heightened
because of individual experiences.
Humans are formed by forces other
than genetics. Family background,
religious affiliations, educational
achievements, socio-cultural forces,
economic conditions, emotional states, and other factors shape human
identities. Because of this, no two people can ever be the same.

This situation—the diversity of people and cultures-impacts communication.


People interacting with those coming from unfamiliar cultures may have
communication difficulties. Most people tend to conclude that miscommunication
results from a speaker's lack of proficiency in a language. What is not realized is
that even with excellent language skills, people may still experience
miscommunication.

How, then, do we approach this form of communication?


Intercultural communication (or cross-cultural communication) is a discipline that
studies communication across different cultures and social groups, or how culture
affects communication. It describes the wide range of communication processes
and problems that naturally appear within an organization or social context made
up of individuals from different religious, social, ethnic, and educational
backgrounds. In this sense, it seeks to understand how people from different
countries and cultures act, communicate, and perceive the world around them.

Many people in intercultural business communication argue that culture


determines how individuals encode messages, what medium they choose for
transmitting them, and the way messages are interpreted. With regard to
intercultural communication proper, it studies situations where people from
different cultural backgrounds interact. Aside from language, intercultural
communication focuses on social attributes, thought patterns, and the cultures of
different groups of people. It also involves understanding the different cultures,
languages, and customs of people from other countries.
Intercultural communication plays a role in social sciences such as anthropology,
cultural studies, linguistics, psychology, and communication studies. Intercultural
communication is also referred to as the base for international businesses.
Several cross-cultural service providers assist with the development of
intercultural communication skills. Research is a major part of the development of
intercultural communication skills. Intercultural communication is in a way the
'interaction with speakers of other languages on equal terms and respecting their
identities'.

Identity and culture are also studied within the discipline of communication to
analyze how globalization influences ways of thinking, beliefs, values, and identity,
within and between cultural environments. Intercultural communication scholars
approach theory with a dynamic outlook and do not believe culture can be
measured nor that cultures share universal attributes. Scholars acknowledge that
culture and communication shift along with societal changes and theories should
consider the constant shifting and nuances of society.
The study of intercultural communication requires intercultural understanding,
which is an ability to understand and value cultural differences. Language is an
example of an important cultural component that is linked to intercultural
understanding.
Intercultural competence;
1.SPECIALIST COMPETENCE
2.METHODOLOGICAL COMPETENCE
3.SELF
4.SOCIAL COMPETENCE
5.HANDLING COMPETENCE; CONSIST OF; KNOWLEDGE, BEHAVIOR, AND
ATTITUDE.
GOAL:

1.ROUTINE

2.NORMALITY

3.PLAUSIBILITY

Functions of Intercultural Communication

A. Private Functions indicate communication through a behavior originating from


an individual

1. Expresses Social Identity. In the process of


intercultural communication are some of the
communication behavior of individuals who used to
express the behavior of social identity is expressed
through the act of speaking both verbal and
non-verbal of language behavior that is knowable
and social identity.

2. Declares Social Integration. The core concept of


social integration is to accept the unity between
individuals, between groups but still recognizes the
differences of every element. It should be understood
that one of the goals of communication is to give the
same meaning for the message shared between the
communicator and the communicant.
3. Increases Knowledge. Often interpersonal and intercultural communication
increase knowledge together to learn the culture of each.

B. Social Function means the relationship between social action and the
systems of which the action is a part, alternatively, as the result of social action.

1. Keeps Supervision - practice intercultural


communication between different communicators and
communicant culture of mutual monitoring functions.
In any process of intercultural communication, the
function is useful to inform the "development" of the
environment.

2. Shows Connection Between Culture - in the


process of intercultural communication, the
communication function is carried out
between two people of different cultures was
a bridge over the differences between them.
The bridging functions can be controlled via
messages they exchanged, the two are
explaining the differences of interpretation on
a message that produces the same meaning.

3. Values Socialization-socialization function is a function to teach


and introduce the cultural values of a society to another society.

When it comes to communication, proper and correct in one culture


may be ineffective or even offensive in another. No culture is right or wrong, better
or worse—just different. In today's global business community, there is no single
best approach to communicating with one another. The key to cross-cultural
success is to develop an understanding of and deep respect for differences.

Cultural Misconceptions

What is the difference between multicultural, cross-cultural, and intercultural?


While they all might be under the same roof, they describe entirely different rooms.
The differences in the meanings have to do with the perspectives we take when
interacting with people from other cultures.
Multicultural refers to a society that contains several cultural or ethnic groups.
People live alongside one another, but each cultural group does not necessarily
have engaging interactions with each other. For example, in a multicultural
neighborhood people may frequent ethnic grocery stores and restaurants without
really interacting with their neighbors from other countries.

Cross-cultural deals with the comparison of different cultures. In cross-cultural


communication, differences are understood and acknowledged, and can bring
about individual change, but not collective transformations. In cross-cultural
societies, one culture is often considered “the norm” and all other cultures are
compared or contrasted to the dominant culture. For example, when negotiating a
business deal between a company from the US and a company from China, they
need to understand each other's cultural differences to build trust and achieve
successful communication.

Intercultural describes communities in which there is a deep understanding and


respect for all cultures. Intercultural communication focuses on the mutual
exchange of ideas and cultural norms and the development of deep relationships.
In an intercultural society, no one is left unchanged because everyone learns from
one another and grows together. For instance, a business meeting between a
Chinese and American company would be an example of intercultural
communication. In this case, both parties may speak English, but their cultural
backgrounds would influence their communication styles, values, and
expectations.

By learning intercultural communication, individuals can develop a global mindset


that enables them to interact effectively with people from different cultures. They
can also become more sensitive to cultural differences and adapt their
communication styles to suit different cultural contexts. This helps to prevent
misunderstandings, miscommunication, and conflicts that can arise when people
from different cultures interact.

In conclusion, learning intercultural communication is essential for effective global


communication. It helps to promote diversity, inclusivity, and cultural competence,
and it enables individuals to interact effectively with people from different cultural
backgrounds. By developing intercultural communication skills, individuals can
contribute to creating a more peaceful, harmonious, and interconnected global
community.
PurCom_BSN102Discussions MM4.2 Communication Contexts and
Dimensions
Can you recall a time when you had to communicate verbally or in writing
with someone from a different country, region, race, or culture? How did it
go? Was it simple or challenging? What difficulties did you experience?
How did you handle them?

Communication and Culture

To understand communication necessities, knowledge of culture, and appreciation


of cultural diversities, we define culture as a set of unique and shared beliefs,
values, and norms that guide certain people in thinking, behaving, and acting. The
Filipino value system is manifested in the practice of po and opo, and the act of
pagmamano (kissing the elder’s hands). In other countries, they might have their
own way of expressing politeness and respect.

Communication and culture are intertwined and inseparable. Culture influences


what and how you communicate. While Americans are straightforward, Filipinos
are non-confrontational.

Unlocking and learning cultural dimensions can increase communication


awareness and competence in a multicultural setting.

Communication Contexts
It is inevitable to interact with individuals from different backgrounds. Your
classmates, for example, come from diverse cultural, religious, and familial
backgrounds. When you start working, communicating will be considerably harder
because you'll be dealing with people all the time who have various viewpoints,
personalities, and cultural backgrounds.

In any communication setting, it is crucial that you comprehend how different


contexts, cultural variety, and the introduction of technology shape and impact the
way you connect with others, not only in your local community but, more crucially,
in the worldwide community.

Communication does not exist in a vacuum; rather, it operates within a certain


context. Communication occurs in the following context:

Personal context. This involves the background of both the sender and the
receiver of the message. It includes their education, religion, socioeconomic
status, marital status, and beliefs that greatly influence their communication.
Awareness of the mentioned factors can avoid misunderstanding; therefore,
respect is maintained.
Physical context. This pertains to the environment where communication takes
place. It involves tangible factors that can be easily perceived by the senses, such
as temperature, humidity, odor, lighting, noise level, etc. Physical context may also
include proximity, far from or how close the participants are to each other, and the
medium used in sending the message.
Social context. This refers to the kind of relationship that exists between the
sender and the receiver. For example, how you talk to your parents may differ
from how you talk to your siblings, friends, and classmates. Ideally, you
communicate easily with the people who are closer to you.
Psychological context. This includes the emotions and feelings of the
participants in the communication process. It involves their opinions, judgments,
prejudices, attitudes, and perceptions toward each other, which can play part in
the transmission of messages.
Cultural context. This is one of the vital considerations in communication. It
includes the sets of beliefs, value systems, guiding principles, and assumptions
based on one’s race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity,
and religion, within which communication happens. Always remember that the
content (what is said) and the delivery (how it is said) vary from culture to culture.

1. Individualism and Collectivism


Individualistic Culture- Puts a premium on the self and personal fulfillment.

e.g., cultures in the First World Countries (USA, Canada, Northern, and Western
European countries.

Collectivistic Culture- Values teamwork and collaboration.

e.g., Latin America, East and Southeast Asia, and Africa


2. Context

Low-Context Culture- Views explicit (stated clearly) words as a way to convey


messages.

● Verbal messages are direct, definite, and detailed.


e.g., USA, Germany, and Scandinavia

High-Context Culture-Uses subtle non-verbal behaviors and implicit information to


convey meaning.

● Verbal messages of people from these countries are unclear and mostly
indirect.

e.g., Latin America and most Asian cultures

3. Chronemics

Monochronic Culture [Sequential]

● Advocates punctuality, timely completion of tasks, and accomplishment


of one task at a time.
● Schedule matters
● Views time as something very important (most like to be annoyed with
people in a polychromic culture)
e.g., USA
Polychronic Culture [Synchronic]
● Has more task fluid and flexible concept of time
● Task interruption and multi-tasking are acceptable practices, and
maintaining relationships is more important than strictly following a
schedule.
e.g., Latin America, Arab and Southern European
4. Uncertainty Avoidance
Low-uncertainty avoidance culture
● Tolerant of unpredictable and uncontrollable situations
● It usually maintains as few rules as possible and allows for the
spontaneity of responses to situations.
● Too many rules and systems are quite upsetting, and asking a lot of
questions is too demanding.
e.g., USA, Sweden, and Denmark
High-uncertainty avoidance culture
● Values precision and always attempts to anticipate risks to possibly
reduce them. To make this possible, rules and systems are created.
● People in this culture use precise language and ask a lot of questions.
● They are particular with rules and systems.
e.g., Germany, Portugal, Greece, Peru, and Belgium
5. Power Distance
Low-power distance culture
● Values equal distribution of power
● People from this culture value democracy and egalitarian (equal rights)
behavior.

e.g., Austria, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and the USA

High-power distance culture


● Recognizes that unequal distribution of power is normal.

e.g., Middle East countries, Malaysia, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Singapore

6. Gender
Masculine Culture
● Characterized by being very performance-driven
● It emphasizes quick results, fulfillment of social obligations, and efficient
generation.
● Values rewards in the here and now
● Work time is separated from leisure time
● It might be impolite to talk about business during lunch or dinner time.

e.g., US, Pakistan, Russia, Canada, Norway, United Kingdom

Feminine Culture
● More laid back that it has more patience in waiting for the outcomes of an action.
● It values perseverance towards the achievement of goals.
● People in this culture can juggle work time and leisure time together.
e.g. Japan, China, Hongkong, Taiwan
Communicating across cultures is challenging. Each culture has set rules that its
members take for granted. Few of us are aware of our own cultural biases
because cultural imprinting is begun at a very early age. And while some of a
culture's knowledge, rules, beliefs, values, phobias, and anxieties are taught
explicitly, most of the information is absorbed subconsciously.

The challenge for multinational communication has never been greater. Worldwide
business organizations have discovered that intercultural communication is a
subject of importance—not just because of increased globalization, but also
because their domestic workforce is growing more and more diverse, ethnically
and culturally.

We are all individuals, and no two people belonging to the same culture are
guaranteed to respond in exactly the same way. However, generalizations are
valid to the extent that they provide clues on what you will most likely encounter
when dealing with members of a particular culture.

High-Context vs. Low-Context

All international communication is influenced by cultural differences. Even the


choice of communication medium can have cultural overtones. The determining
factor may not be the degree of industrialization, but rather whether the country
falls into a high-context or low-context culture.

High-context cultures (Mediterranean, Slav, Central European, Latin American,


African, Arab, Asian, American-Indian) leave much of the message unspecified, to
be understood through context, nonverbal cues, and between-the-lines
interpretation of what is actually said. By contrast, low-context cultures (most
Germanic and English-speaking countries) expect messages to be explicit and
specific.

Sequential vs. Synchronic


Some cultures think of time sequentially, as a linear commodity to "spend," "save,"
or "waste." Other cultures view time synchronically, as a constant flow to be
experienced in the moment, and as a force that cannot be contained or controlled.

In sequential cultures (like North American, English, German, Swedish, and


Dutch), businesspeople give full attention to one agenda item after another.

In synchronic cultures (including South America, southern Europe and Asia) the
flow of time is viewed as a sort of circle, with the past, present, and future all
interrelated. This viewpoint influences how organizations in those cultures
approach deadlines, strategic thinking, investments, developing talent from within,
and the concept of "long-term" planning.

Orientation to the past, present, and future is another aspect of time in which
cultures differ. Americans believe that the individual can influence the future by
personal effort, but since there are too many variables in the distant future, we
favor a short-term view. Synchronistic cultures’ context is to understand the
present and prepare for the future. Any important relationship is a durable bond
that goes back and forward in time, and it is often viewed as grossly disloyal not to
favor friends and relatives in business dealings.

Affective vs. Neutral

In international business practices, reason and emotion both play a role. Which of
these dominates depends upon whether we are affective (readily showing
emotions) or emotionally neutral in our approach. Members of neutral cultures do
not telegraph their feelings, but keep them carefully controlled and subdued. In
cultures with high affect, people show their feelings plainly by laughing, smiling,
grimacing, scowling, and sometimes crying, shouting, or walking out of the room.

This doesn't mean that people in neutral cultures are cold or unfeeling, but in the
course of normal business activities, neutral cultures are more careful to monitor
the amount of emotion they display. Emotional reactions were found to be least
acceptable in Japan, Indonesia, the U.K., Norway, and the Netherlands and most
accepted in Italy, France, the U.S., and Singapore.
Reason and emotion are part of all human communication. When expressing
ourselves, we look to others for confirmation of our ideas and feelings. If our
approach is highly emotional, we are seeking a direct emotional response: "I feel
the same way." If our approach is highly neutral, we want an indirect response: "I
agree with your thoughts on this."

It's easy for people from neutral cultures to sympathize with the Dutch manager
and his frustration over trying to reason with "that excitable Italian." After all, an
idea either works or it doesn't work, and the way to test the validity of an idea is
through trial and observation. That just makes sense—doesn't it? Well, not
necessarily to the Italian who felt the issue was deeply personal and who viewed
any "rational argument" as totally irrelevant!

When it comes to communication, what's proper and correct in one culture may be
ineffective or even offensive in another. In reality, no culture is right or wrong,
better or worse—just different. In today's global business community, there is no
single best approach to communicating with one another. The key to cross-cultural
success is to develop an understanding of, and a deep respect for, the
differences.

MM4.3 Barriers and Challenges in Multicultural Settings


Intercultural awareness is, quite simply, having an understanding of both your
own and other cultures, and particularly the similarities and differences between
them. These similarities and differences may be in terms of values, beliefs, or
behavior. They may be large or small, and they matter very much when you are
meeting or interacting with people who are from another cultural background.
Understanding that people from different cultures have different values is the
foundation to good intercultural relationships.

Ethnocentrism This refers to the belief that one’s own culture is better than
others. Ethnocentric attitude is illustrated when people evaluate others based on
their own cultural beliefs and practices. There are three levels of ethnocentrism.
The positive level is when you prefer your culture over other people’s cultures.
The negative level involves the belief that one’s own culture is superior and that
the behavior of others must be evaluated through one’s cultural standards. The
extremely negative level, involves imposing your cultural beliefs on other people.
Ethnocentrism is encouraged when the educational system only teaches a
particular country’s culture and ignores the others. In the same way, religion also
promotes ethnocentrism by promoting a particular set of beliefs.

Stereotyping This is the mental categorization or general, often inaccurate,


representation of a particular group of people depending on one’s observations
and experiences in interacting with its members. Negative stereotypes are
common and are often taught (e.g., when a parent tells a child that all beggars are
lazy, that boys should not play with dolls, or when someone says all Muslims are
terrorists). Stereotypes may also be positive, such as when one thinks of all
Asians as intelligent, all teachers as patient, or all mothers as caring. Stereotypes
are perpetuated by institutions such as the family or a religious organization and
by mass media through advertisements, movies, news, and music. Stereotypes
determine how you interact or behave among a certain group of people, no matter
how inaccurate or unfair the representation or generalization may be.

Prejudice This is a positive or negative feeling held towards individuals belonging


to a particular race, social class, religion, and sexual identity, among others. For
instance, prejudice may cause one to feel fearful or resentful towards someone
belonging to a particular group. Gordon W. Allport (1954) identified ways to
express prejudice. It may be exemplified by speaking ill of someone from a target
group: “You cannot trust people of color” or avoiding interactions with a certain
group: “Stay away from people who are not of Chinese blood.” Prejudice is also
illustrated by depriving a member of a particular group their rights to education,
employment, and others. A prejudiced person may also resort to physical attacks,
such as burning or destroying a group’s possessions. Finally, prejudice is
demonstrated through extermination or the use of physical violence in attempts to
destroy a particular culture (e.g., Jewish Holocaust).

The Cost of Cultural Ignorance Communicators who fail to realize that persons
from different cultures may not look, think, or act as they run the risk of having
those with whom they interact judge them as insensitive, ignorant, or culturally
confused. The culturally confused pay a high price. Cultural misunderstandings
often lead to lost opportunities and increased tension between people. The
following examples demonstrate the extent to which cultural ignorance affects
communication:

Challenges of Intercultural Communications

It has become widespread that speakers' use of different languages results in intercultural
miscommunication and misunderstanding. As Scollon and Scollon (1995) state:

When we are communicating with people who are very different from us, it is very difficult to
know how to draw inferences about what they mean, and so it is impossible to depend on
shared knowledge and background for confidence in our interpretations (p. 22).

Indeed, the lack of shared knowledge, beliefs, and cultural diversity make it more complicated
to arrive at the correct inference or interpretation of meanings. But it can also be argued that
English is now a global lingua franca. In fact, with the ASEAN integration, English has been
declared the official or working language of ASEAN. So with just one language to be spoken
or used by many countries, including the 10 member countries of the ASEAN, what else can
go wrong?

It is thus important to emphasize that the ownership of English cannot be attributed to just one
country or to those who use it as a native or home language. The varieties of English spoken
by different speech communities have evolved for a reason. They use it for communal
purposes. The local culture and its speakers have heavily influenced these varieties. Recent
studies have shown that the problem of misunderstanding is not overt and can be traced to
speech perturbations, poorly managed turn-taking, and non-aligned, "parallel talk” (House,
1999, p. 80). Meierkord (2000, p. 11 as cited by Kaur, 2016) emphasizes that communication
in English as a lingua franca (ELF) is "a form of intercultural communication characterized by
cooperation rather than misunderstanding" (p. 135). She noted this in her study of participants
coming from 17 different first language backgrounds, which yielded the result that the
participants displayed communicative behavior not generally associated with their
linguacultural backgrounds, making the talk cooperative and supportive with few
misunderstandings.

Note that verbal utterances may not always cause misunderstandings in intercultural
communication. Misunderstandings may also occur due to the wrong interpretation of the
non-verbal code. For instance, the handshake, commonly done by people introduced to each
other by a third party, should be done and interpreted correctly as the type of handshake
varies from culture to culture. Study the table below and find out how handshakes differ from
country to country.

The Handshake

US Firm handshake

France soft handshake

Germany a firm handshake for men traditionally accompanied by a slight bow

Japan handshake with an arm firmly extended, accompanied by a bow

Middle East Shake and free hand placed on the forearm of the other person

Greetings Like handshakes, greeting rituals also vary from culture to culture. Japanese
women bow differently from Japanese men. Could you describe how the bow is done by the
Japanese and the Germans as illustrated in the drawings below?

The Importance of Intercultural Awareness

In this multicultural world, most of us need at least some intercultural


awareness every day. For those who live or work away from our native
countries, or who live or work closely with those from another country,
it is absolutely vital. There are four groups of people who are most
likely to need intercultural awareness.

1. Expatriates
Expatriates, or expats, are people who live and work away from
their native country.
Usually employed by multi-nationals rather than local companies,
expats may be on quite long postings, perhaps two to three years.
They are often quite senior in their organization and are expected to
be able to apply skills learned elsewhere to the new location.
Lack of intercultural awareness, and in particular of the way
things are done round here, can often damage or derail expat
assignments.
1. People Who Work Globally
Even those based in their native country may, in a global economy,
need to work with people from other countries and cultures. A little
intercultural awareness may prevent them giving or taking offense
unnecessarily.
1. People Who Work in Multicultural Teams
There are very few of us who do not have at least some contact with
colleagues or acquaintances who are non-native. Some industries and
organizations have large numbers of migrant workers, for example,
healthcare and social care where nurses are highly sought-after and
often recruited from abroad.
Intercultural awareness helps to ease colleague–colleague and
colleague–manager interactions and prevent misunderstandings.
1. Tourists
You may feel that two weeks’ holiday does not justify finding out a bit
more about the culture of the place you are visiting. But as a visitor,
you are, like it or not, seen as a representative of your country. And it
is perfectly possible to give offense inadvertently.
Developing Intercultural Awareness
What can you do to develop intercultural awareness? Here are
some ideas:
● Admit that you don’t know.
● Acknowledging your ignorance is the first step towards learning
about other cultures.
● Develop an awareness of your own views, assumptions and
beliefs, and how they are shaped by your culture.
● Ask yourself questions like: what do I see as ‘national’
characteristics in this country? Which ‘national’ characteristic do
I like and dislike in myself?
● Take an interest.
● Read about other countries and cultures, and start to consider
the differences between your own culture and what you have
read.
● Don’t make judgements.
● Instead, start by collecting information. Ask neutral questions
and clarify meaning before assuming that you know what’s going
on.
● Once you have collected information, start to check your
assumptions.
● Ask colleagues or friends who know more about the culture than
you, and systematically review your assumptions to make sure
that they are correct.
● Develop empathy.
● Think about how it feels to be in the other person’s position.
● Look for what you can gain, not what you could lose.
● If you can take the best from both your own and someone else’s
views and experiences, you could get a far greater whole that
will benefit both of you. But this requires you to take the
approach that you don’t necessarily know best, and even that
you don’t necessarily know at all
Ang sumpay ani kay will be available Sep 27 12am.

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