CHAPTER 3CHAPTER 3

INTERCULTURAL COMMUICATIONINTERCULTURAL COMMUICATION

COMPETENCECOMPETENCE

I. United States as an Intercultural I. United States as an Intercultural Community: What does it mean Community: What does it mean

to be an American?to be an American?

MetaphorsMetaphors

Melting Pot: This image represents Melting Pot: This image represents the ideal blending of cultural the ideal blending of cultural groups. To create a great big groups. To create a great big assimilated culture that is stronger assimilated culture that is stronger and better than the unique and better than the unique individual cultures of which it is individual cultures of which it is composed.composed.Single cultural entity has never existedSingle cultural entity has never existedAccommodations have been made Accommodations have been made Some practices have been adoptedSome practices have been adopted

Tributaries: cultures maintain their Tributaries: cultures maintain their unique identity as they surge unique identity as they surge toward their common destination.toward their common destination.Suggests that it is acceptable and Suggests that it is acceptable and

desirable for cultural groups to desirable for cultural groups to maintain their identities Also, suggests maintain their identities Also, suggests that their objective is to be apart of the that their objective is to be apart of the majority majority

(Tributaries are small creeks that (Tributaries are small creeks that ultimately flow into a common stream, ultimately flow into a common stream, where they combine to form a major where they combine to form a major river).river).

Tapestry: A decorative cloth made Tapestry: A decorative cloth made up of many strands that are woven up of many strands that are woven together into an artistic design that together into an artistic design that may be pleasing to others and not may be pleasing to others and not to some.to some.Is static and unchangeableIs static and unchangeable

Garden Salad: A complex array of Garden Salad: A complex array of distinct cultures that are blended distinct cultures that are blended into a unique, tasteful mixture.into a unique, tasteful mixture.You can mix the salad differentlyYou can mix the salad differentlyProvides different textures, colors and Provides different textures, colors and

tastestastesAlways in a state of flux.Always in a state of flux.

5. Create your own 5. Create your own metaphor metaphor

How would you describe the How would you describe the American Culture?American Culture?

Names: many people who live in the Names: many people who live in the U.S.A prefer to call themselves U.S.A prefer to call themselves American. But, people in Brazil, American. But, people in Brazil, Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico, and Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico, and other central and South American other central and South American countries also consider themselves, as countries also consider themselves, as Americans-they are apart of the Americans-they are apart of the continent collectively known as the continent collectively known as the Americas. They believe for U.S.A to call Americas. They believe for U.S.A to call themselves Americans is imperialistic themselves Americans is imperialistic and insulting. They resent the and insulting. They resent the implication they are less central or less implication they are less central or less important.important. United StatiansUnited Statians United StatersUnited Staters U.S. Americans- this narrows the scopeU.S. Americans- this narrows the scope

Cultural GroupsCultural GroupsWe avoid- majority, minority, We avoid- majority, minority,

dominant, non-dominant dominant, non-dominant groupingsgroupingsWe avoid grouping that denote race We avoid grouping that denote race

(ex. White/Caucasian-European (ex. White/Caucasian-European American)American)

Hispanics- derives from the Hispanics- derives from the dominant influences of Spain and dominant influences of Spain and the Spanish language-seems to the Spanish language-seems to group people who have Spanish group people who have Spanish surnamessurnames

Chicano-refers to the multiple Chicano-refers to the multiple heritages of Mexicans in the heritages of Mexicans in the United States. Speaks to United States. Speaks to political and social political and social consciousness.consciousness.

Those who wish to acknowledge Those who wish to acknowledge their cultural roots to their their cultural roots to their national heritage prefer Mexican national heritage prefer Mexican American & Cuban American.American & Cuban American.

Latino- a cultural and linguistic Latino- a cultural and linguistic term that includes all groups in term that includes all groups in the Americas that share the the Americas that share the Spanish language, culture and Spanish language, culture and traditionstraditions

Native American, Arab American, Native American, Arab American, Pacific Islander, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Asian American, etc.etc.

African AmericanAfrican American

II. Competence and II. Competence and InterculturalIntercultural

Communication: interaction that is perceived as Communication: interaction that is perceived as effective in fulfilling certain rewarding objectives effective in fulfilling certain rewarding objectives in a way that is also appropriate to the context in in a way that is also appropriate to the context in which the interaction occurs.which the interaction occurs.

Intra-cultural Communication CompetenceIntra-cultural Communication Competence

Perceived- competence is bases on the Perceived- competence is bases on the communicatorscommunicators

Is specific to context of the relationshipIs specific to context of the relationship Appropriate- communicators use Appropriate- communicators use

symbols that they are expected to use.symbols that they are expected to use.

What are the goals & objectives of the communication?

Components of Intercultural Components of Intercultural CompetenceCompetence

ContextContextAppropriateness/Effectiveness; Proper Appropriateness/Effectiveness; Proper

suitable behaviorssuitable behaviors3. Knowledge (Culture general/specific), 3. Knowledge (Culture general/specific),

Motivations (emotional associations/ Motivations (emotional associations/ feeling on intercultural feeling on intercultural comm./intentions), Actions (actual comm./intentions), Actions (actual performance)performance)

III. Basic tools for improving III. Basic tools for improving Intercultural CompetenceIntercultural Competence

BASICS: Behavioral Assessment Scale for BASICS: Behavioral Assessment Scale for Intercultural CompetenceIntercultural Competence

8 Steps8 Steps

1.1. Display of respect: Show positive Display of respect: Show positive regard for another personregard for another person

2.2. Orientation to knowledge: terms used Orientation to knowledge: terms used to explain yourself and your worldto explain yourself and your world

3.3. Empathy: behave as though you Empathy: behave as though you understand the world of othersunderstand the world of others

4.4. Interaction Management: skill of Interaction Management: skill of regulating conversationregulating conversation

5.5. Task role behavior: initiation of ideas Task role behavior: initiation of ideas related to group problem solvingrelated to group problem solving

6.6. Relational Role behavior: behaviors Relational Role behavior: behaviors associated w/ interpersonal harmonyassociated w/ interpersonal harmony

7.7. Tolerance ambiguity: ability to react Tolerance ambiguity: ability to react to new and ambiguous situation with to new and ambiguous situation with little visible discomfortlittle visible discomfort

8.8. Interaction posture: ability to Interaction posture: ability to respond to others in descriptive, respond to others in descriptive, non-evaluative, and nonjudgmental non-evaluative, and nonjudgmental wayway

DescriptionDescription InterpretationInterpretation EvaluationEvaluation

HOMEWORK: CULTURAL HOMEWORK: CULTURAL DO’S & Don'tsDO’S & Don'ts

IDENTIFY 10 CULTURAL DO’S FROM IDENTIFY 10 CULTURAL DO’S FROM YOUR CULTUREYOUR CULTURE

IDENTIFY 10 CULTURAL DON’TS IDENTIFY 10 CULTURAL DON’TS FROM YOUR CULTUREFROM YOUR CULTURE

HomeworkHomework

Are you African American?Are you African American? Are you Black?Are you Black? Are you Filipino?Are you Filipino? Are you CaucasianAre you Caucasian Are you Hispanic?Are you Hispanic?

WHY????WHY????400 words on why you identify 400 words on why you identify

yourself in one of these yourself in one of these cultural groupscultural groups