Cross-cultural communication:

Effectively communicating with others from around the world

International Student Services

Liaise between Dept. of Homeland Security and the University

Manage international enrollment standards for university based on SC Illegal Immigration Act of 2008

Serving international students on campus with advising services and programming…

International Student Services

Advising includes:› Immigration› Cultural › Personal

Programming includes:› New student orientation› CGC› Int’l Ed Week› Workshops

International Students at USC

India

China

South Korea

France

ColombiaGermany

Oman

Angola

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

Brazil

Geo Game

155 students

350

students

FALL 2

00

9 D

EM

OG

RA

PH

ICS

•Fall ‘09 All campuses: 1347 students•Fall ‘09 Columbia: 1186

China 350 (30%)

South/East Asia 221

(19%)Europe 164 (14%)

India 155 (13%)

Middle East 110 (9%)

North America 72 (6%)

Africa 51 (4%)South America 50 (4%)

Central America and the Car-ibbean 9 (1%)

Australia/Pacific 4 (<1%)

Stepping across cultural and language boundaries

First and foremost: › RESPECT› SINCERITY

Know basic cultural tenets when possible

Speak clearly and slowly as needed Do NOT shout. Volume is not an issue Avoid slang, idioms and heavy accent Writing may be better than speaking

You might be misunderstood if…

IDIOMS Clearly expressed

Come up with Deal with For good Go ahead Go on In fact On the other

hand Point out

Produce/create/find To be concerned about Permanently Begin Continue Basically Looking at the opposite

side of … Explain, show

You might be misunderstood if…

IDIOMS Clearly expressed

Did you figure it out?

Do you get it? Make up

(work) Can you make

it to your appointment?

Did you solve it? Do you

understand? Re-do or repeat

(work) Will you be able to

arrive on time?

Basic Cultural Communication Styles

“Hot Climate” Cultures “Cold Climate” Cultures

Japanese Chinese Arabic Mexican Greek Latin

American

U.S. (American) Canadian Western/Northern

European

“Hot Climate” Cultures Knowledge is situational, relational Less verbally explicit, written or formally

expressed More internalized understandings of what is

communicated (ex: "in-jokes") Stable, long term, well-established relationships

are common Decisions and activities focus around personal

face-to-face communication Strong awareness of who is accepted/belongs vs.

"outsiders" Authority is very important EXAMPLE: Family reunions

“Hot Climate” Communication

Verbal message is often indirect Communication is an art of engagement Voice tone, eye contact, gestures are important Relationships are built over time, are long-lasting

and center on trust Disagreement is personal Group problem-solving is preferred Learning occurs by watching model first, then

practice Accuracy is valued Identity rooted in group (work, family, religion)

“Cold Climate” Cultures

Rules oriented: there’s a procedure for everything

Most knowledge is codified, public, external, and accessible.

Sequencing, separation--of time, of space, of activities, of relationships

More interpersonal connections of shorter duration

Task-centered. Decisions and activities focus around what needs to be done, division of responsibilities.

Example: Airports

“Cold Climate” Communication

Words are most important tool Knowledge is transferable Verbal message is direct Learning is by following directions, focus on

detail. Speed is valued Individual work is preferred Disagreement is rational, not personal Identity rooted in self and

accomplishments

Communication Styles

Influenced by:› Personality› Culture› Family› Values› Perception› Situation

Do All Americans communicate the same way? › Consider regional

differences› Family/value

differences

Avoid Stereotyping!

KEEP IN

MIN

D… Our similarities far outweigh our differences!

References and suggested sources:

Saphiere, D.F., Mikk, B.K., & DeVries, B.I. (2005) Communication Highwire: leveraging the power of diverse communication styles. Yarmouth, ME, USA: Intercultural Press.

http://hubpages.com/hub/High-Context-vs-Low-Context-Communication

Agar, M. (1994). Language Shock/Understanding the Culture of Conversation. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc.

Lanier, Sarah A. (2000) Foreign to Familiar: A guide for understanding hot- and cold-climate cultures. Hagerstown, MD: Macdougall Publishing.

Thank you!!International Student ServicesUniversity of South Carolina901 Sumter St, #123 ByrnesColumbia, SC 29208T: (803) 777-7461F: (803) 777-0462www.sa.sc.edu/iss

QUESTIONS OR

COMMENTS?

Email: iss@sc.edu