Intercultural Communication

Intercultural Communication Culture is the accumulated learned behavior of a group of people. It is the way of life of people that they accept without thinking and it is passed along from one generation to another through imitation and communication. Culture doesn’t have...

Intercultural Communication Culture is the accumulated learned behavior of a group of people. It is the way of life of people that they accept without thinking and it is passed along from one generation to another through imitation and communication. Culture doesn’t have to be from another country, it can also be observed from people living in the same country but from different regions or states or even groups of people coming from different schools, religions or even family. Intercultural communication involves communicating with another person or group of people coming from a background or community who does not share your beliefs, tradition, symbolism, or values. This kind of communication should be done in a mindful way to be able to engage each other properly and effectively. Aspects of Intercultural Communication: Cultural Identity – Beliefs, traditions, values, and practices of a group. Gender Roles – Socially constructed roles that differ by culture. Age Identity – How individuals feel about their age, beyond biological factors. Social Status – Determined by income, title, or job type (blue collar vs. white collar). Religion – A system of beliefs influencing behavior and attitudes. Common Problems in Intercultural Communication: Ethnocentrism – Ethnic bias; judging other cultures based on one’s own. Stereotyping – Generalizing behavior or traits to entire groups. Prejudice – Preconceived negative notions about another cultural group. Strategies to Avoid Communication Breakdown: Delay attributing meaning – Study the culture before interpreting actions. Develop awareness of non-verbal communication – Be mindful of face, gestures, body language, space, and voice. Check whether non-verbal messages correspond to verbal messages. – Ensure words and actions align. Glossary Blue collar jobs – Work that requires manual labor Identity – A category or social group which is assumed to insinuate sameness or connection, such as gender, age, or nationality, or to a larger scale a sense of self to which the specific identity categorizes are assumed to contribute. White Collar Jobs - Work that is done inside an office or cubicle or an administrative job Listening Why Listening is Important: Listening helps maintain focus, improve comprehension, and strengthen relationships. Difference between Hearing and Listening: Hearing — plain act of receiving sounds Listening — using our sensory experiences or our background knowledge to recognize, interpret spoken or verbal language to satisfy a need Models of Listening: Active Listening – requires effort and concentration on the listener’s part. Listening to lectures, discussions, or conferences. This action demands your full attention and concentration so you can understand the message. Critical/Persuasive Listening – Evaluate arguments based on evidence. Discriminative/Instructional Listening – Gather facts and information. Passive Listening – does not rely on focus or effort. This usually happens when you do something else while listening Empathetic Listening – Relieves anxiety or tension, not for analysis. Appreciative Listening – Done for pleasure or entertainment. Barriers to Listening: Noise – This is any kind of sensory stimuli that affects the transmission of messages. External Noise – Physical distractions (e.g., temperature, background noise). Internal Noise – Emotional or mental distractions (e.g., daydreaming, prejudices). Strategies for Effective Listening: Stop Talking – Allow the speaker to finish before responding. Concentrate – Focus entirely on the speaker’s message. Avoid Criticism – Don’t judge the speaker’s appearance or mannerisms. Remove Distractions – Eliminate physical and mental distractions. Empathize – Understand the speaker’s point of view. Be Patient – Give the speaker time to articulate their thoughts. Avoid Prejudices – Focus on the message, not the speaker. Focus on Main Points – Prioritize key ideas over details. Take Notes – Summarize important points in your own words. Watch for Non-verbal Cues – Pay attention to gestures and facial expressions.