What You Should Know about Intercultural Communication
Cultural Differences
Legal and EthicalLegal and EthicalLegal and EthicalLegal and Ethical
NonverbalNonverbalNonverbalNonverbal
ContextualContextualContextualContextual
SocialSocialSocialSocial
Cultural ContextHigh
Context
LowContext
Decision Making Practices
Problem Solving Techniques
Negotiating Styles
HighContext
LowContext
Low Context
Swiss German
German
Scandinavian
American
French
British
High Context
Japanese
Chinese
Arab
Greek
Spanish
Italian
Nonverbal Communication
PersonalSpace
PersonalSpace
BodyLanguage
BodyLanguage
Overcome Ethnocentrism
Accept DistinctionsAccept Distinctions
Avoid AssumptionsAvoid Assumptions
Avoid JudgmentsAvoid Judgments
Communicating Across Cultures
Study OtherStudy OtherCulturesCultures
OvercomeOvercomeLanguage BarriersLanguage Barriers
Develop Skills inDevelop Skills inCommunicationCommunication
English as aEnglish as aSecond LanguageSecond Language
English as aEnglish as aSecond LanguageSecond Language
ForeignForeignLanguageLanguage
ForeignForeignLanguageLanguage Speaking SkillsSpeaking SkillsSpeaking SkillsSpeaking Skills
Writing SkillsWriting SkillsWriting SkillsWriting SkillsSocial CustomsSocial CustomsSocial CustomsSocial Customs
Business Business ProtocolsProtocols
Business Business ProtocolsProtocols
Study Other Cultures
• Assume differences
• Take responsibility
• Withhold judgment
• Show respect
• Empathize
• Tolerate ambiguity
Legal and Ethical Behavior
Seek Common GroundSeek Common Ground
Withhold JudgmentWithhold Judgment
Send Honest MessagesSend Honest Messages
Respect DifferencesRespect Differences
Culture ShockThe 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• 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
• 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
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