Intercultural Communication

in EducationBy, Colleen O’Mara

Uncertainty Reduction

Theory

Anxiety Uncertainty Management

Theory

Uncertainty Reduction Theory

• Becomes anxious communicating with someone of a different culture, or anxious in any situation

•Reduce that uncertainty and increase predictability

Anxiety Uncertainty Management Theory

• The management of uncertainty and anxiety rather than the reduction of them

• Being able to predict one’s attitudes or beliefs allows for the management of one’s anxiety and uncertainty

• Mindfulness, where one is open to new information and perceptions

Hispanic Students

• Collectivistic

• Cooperative

• Do not feel need for everyone to take on a role in a group

• Cheating is not an issue

Chinese Student

• Little or no eye contact

•Indirect answers to questions

• Will not ask questions

Culture & Cognition

=Better

retention strategies

Spoken Language vs.

Memory&

Recall

Asian Indian Students

• Reading program

• English is not first language

• Trouble with reading comprehension

Collectivistic Teacher

• Group Work

• Students treated fairly

High-Context Classroom

Proxemics

“Actions Speak

Louder Than Words”