Transcript Cross-cultural Awareness Training

Cultural Awareness and
Cross-cultural
Communication
by Lisa A. Hima
US Language Advisor
Ministry of Defense, Slovak Republic
Culture
“The totality of socially transmitted
behavior
patterns,
arts,
beliefs,
institutions, and all other products of
human work and thought which are
considered as the expression of a
particular period, class, community, or
population and with respect to a particular
category, such as a field, subject, or
mode of expression.”
American Heritage Dictionary
Culture
“Culture provides the code that tells
people how to behave predictably
and acceptably, the cipher that allows
them to derive meaning from
language and other symbols, the
map that supplies the behavioral
options for satisfying human needs.”
Seeley, H. Ned (1997)
Culture
“Culture is a system of values and beliefs
which we share with others. It can be
discussed in terms of ways in which
people pertaining to a group, society or
organisation behave, communicate, think
and perceive reality. Each culture exhibits
differing value and belief systems, which
affect how people perceive reality and react
to it.”
Gary R. Weaver (2000)
Cultural Awareness
Someone who speaks a
foreign language well, but
doesn’t understand the
social philosophical
content of the language is
a “fluent fool.”
Milton J. Bennett
Intercultural Communication
Ways to avoid becoming a fluent fool:
• Make students aware of how their native language
is related to the basic values, beliefs, thought
patterns and social actions of their cultures.
“Who I am” Poem
• Objectives:
Increase awareness and encourage
self-development .
Provide opport unit ies t o make
connect ions across and within
cult ural lines.
Provide a non -threat ening st art in g
point for encouraging self-reflect ive
t hought and int rospect ion.
• Provide examples comparing their native
language-culture with the new language-culture-specifically concepts and structures in the new
language that do not exist in their language.
• Assess the linguistic achievement not only in
terms of vocabulary, but also in pragmatic
dimensions of culturally appropriate social
judgement and decision making.
Milton J. Bennett
Intercultural Communication
Seeley states that in order to have
accurate intercultural communication
one must have fluency in the target
language, knowledge as to what people
are “imaging” when they speak and the
ability to interpret the gestures and
icons associated to it.
Cultural Awareness
Statements
1. You should always maintain eye contact
when conversing with an authority
figure—teacher, employer, parent, etc.
2. The welfare of the community is always
more important than the welfare of the
individual.
3. Ethnic groups all perceive gender roles
in the same way. They all encourage
equality of the sexes.
4. New immigrants should check local laws
before engaging in home-country
rituals.
5. Minority members of any population
should conform to the customs and
values of the majority.
Agree
Disagree
Nonverbal communication
Successful intercultural or cross-cultural
communication stems from the knowledge
and importance of nonverbal communication.
It is important to be familiar with the uses of:
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silence
body positions,
physical space,
eye contact,
facial expressions,
hand gestures
Nonverbal Communication
(Dresser, N. 2003 p. 16)
Reynolds and Valentine, 2004
Cross-Cultural Communication
Cross-cultural communication is
about dealing with people from
other cultures in a way that
minimizes misunderstandings
and maximizes your potential
to create strong cross-cultural
relationships.
© Kwintessential Ltd.
Tips to Improve Cross-cultural
Communication
• Slow down
• Separate
questions
• Avoid negative
questions
• Take turns
• Write it down
• Be supportive
• Check
meanings
• Avoid slang
• Watch the
humor
• Maintain
etiquette
© Kwintessential Ltd.