inlingua

PDP Workshop

Renata Urban

Fundamentals

of Intercultural

Communication

Today, we will talk about ...

What is culture?

Stereotyping vs cultural awareness

What is intercultural training?

Intercultural concepts

Intercultural dimensions

Perceptions, communication styles

and proxemics

Culture sensitive topics in inlingua materials

Warm-up game: The visitors

Person 1, 2, 3: Visitor:

Hugging, shaking hands,

touching, being close ok

Ask for name answer

Eye contact important

Hugging, shaking hands,

touching, being close no

Ask for name only after

having introduced yourself

Eye contact avoid

Yes is yes, and no is no Never say no/ yes = polite

Talk to anybody, introduce

yourself to anybody

different levels of hierarchy

are treated equally

Treat people of different

hierarchy levels differently

What is culture?

• What people believe, say or do

• Patterned ways of thinking,

feeling and reacting

• Values a group of people share

• Framework of rules, norms and standards

• Basis for assumptions and perceptions

• What is considered "normal"

• "How we do things 'round here"

• A way of life/ a mindset/ a modus operandi

of a group of people

The Iceberg Model

Language

Ethnicity Religion

Artifacts Behavior

Assumptions

Customs

Norms

Values

Beliefs

Attitudes

Stereotypes

Funny

or insulting

Inlingua teachers can be affected

by these aspects of culture:

• eye contact / physical contact

• smiling / laughing / jokes / humor

• temper / showing anger / criticizing

• speaking up / turn-taking / expressing

opinion / asking questions

• body language

• attitude towards learning / self-studying

Cultural Dimensions

Geert Hofstede

Low power distance High power distance

Masculinity Femininity

Individualism Conformity

Long-term

orientation Short-term

orientation

Weak uncertainty

avoidance Strong uncertainty

avoidance

Indulgence Restraint

Geert & Gert Jan Hofstede's

Website:

https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-culture-tools/

Cultural Dimensions

Richard D. Lewis

Cultural Dimensions

Richard D. Lewis

Cultural Dimensions

Richard D. Lewis

Cultural Dimensions

Richard D. Lewis

Cultural Dimensions

Richard D. Lewis

linear-active multi-active

reactive

Cultural Dimensions

Edward T. Hall

Low context High context

High territory Low territory

Monochronic Polychronic

Cultural DimensionsFons Trompenaars/ Charles Hampden Turner

Universalism Particularism

Specific Diffuse

Individualism Conformity

Achievement Ascription

Neutral Emotional

Sequential Time Synchronous Time

Internal Direction Outer Direction

Perceptions

What do you see ...

... a white goblet

or two black faces?

... 3 or 4 logs?

Perceptions

What do you see ...

Perceptions

What do you see ...

Perceptions

What do you see ...

39

Perceptions

What do you see ...

Perceptions

German-American "field study":

American perceptions

of Germans (some ...)

German perceptions

of Americans (some ...)

➢ all business, no fun

➢ obsessed with rules

➢ see problems everywhere

➢ lack of humor

➢ knowledgeable & efficient

➢ reliable & no nonsense

➢ superficial, can't focus

on work, and don't

mean what they say

➢ very materialistic

➢ overly religious

➢ easy-going, fun-loving

➢ everything is possible

Nature vs Nurture

Human

Behavior

(innate/ universal)

Culture(learned/ specific)

Per

son

ality

Other things to consider:

Non-verbal communication

Proxemics

Culture sentitive topics

in inlingua materials

Final thoughts, Q&As

How is all of this relevant to

inlingua teachers?

What are you taking away from

today's workshop?

Final Q&As

Thank you for being a

culturally mindful teacher