Transcript Intercultural Communication

What You Should
Know about
Intercultural
Communication
Cultural Differences
Contextual
Legal and Ethical
Social
Nonverbal
Cultural Context
High
Context
Decision Making Practices
High
Context
Problem Solving Techniques
Low
Context
Negotiating Styles
Low
Context
Low Context
Swiss German
German
Scandinavian
American
French
British
High Context
Japanese
Chinese
Arab
Greek
Spanish
Italian
Nonverbal
Communication
Personal
Space
Body
Language
Overcome
Ethnocentrism
Accept Distinctions
Avoid Assumptions
Avoid Judgments
Communicating Across
Cultures
Study Other
Cultures
Overcome
Language Barriers
Develop Skills in
Communication
Social Customs
English as a
Second Language
Writing Skills
Business
Protocols
Foreign
Language
Speaking Skills
Study Other Cultures
• Assume differences
• Take responsibility
• Withhold judgment
• Show respect
• Empathize
• Tolerate ambiguity
Legal and Ethical
Behavior
Seek Common Ground
Withhold Judgment
Send Honest Messages
Respect Differences
Culture Shock
The term “culture shock” describes the anxiety
produced when a person moves to a completely
new environment.
This term expresses the lack of direction, the
feeling of not knowing what to do or how to do
things in a new environment, and not knowing
what is appropriate or inappropriate.
The feeling of culture shock generally sets in after
the first few weeks of coming to a new place.
symptoms
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Sadness, loneliness,
melancholy
Preoccupation with health
Aches, pains, and allergies
Insomnia, desire to sleep too
much or too little
Changes in temperament,
depression, feeling
vulnerable, feeling powerless
Anger, irritability, resentment,
unwillingness to interact with
others
Identifying with the old culture
or idealizing the old country
Loss of identity
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Trying too hard to absorb
everything in the new culture
or country
Unable to solve simple
problems
Lack of confidence
Feelings of inadequacy or
insecurity
Developing stereotypes about
the new culture
Developing obsessions such
as over-cleanliness
Longing for family
Feelings of being lost,
overlooked, exploited or
abused
Stages
1. Honeymoon
2. Discontent, impatience, anger,
sadness, and feeling incompetent
3. Understanding
4. Balance and integration
5. Re-entry of old culture
Managing
• Be patient with yourself
• Be positive about what you are
learning
• Manage stress
• Use resources
• Maintain contact with ethnic group
• Maintain contact with new culture