Independent Practice: Barriers to Intercultural Communication

LISTENING

 

Exercise 1. Watch a video devoted to cultural diversity with tips from Snéha Khilay, a trainer from communication skills experts Speak First. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDvLk7e2Irc

 

Exercise 2. Answer the questions.

1. What is cultural diversity?

2. How does communication differ in different cultures?

3. What cultural differences does cultural diversity cover?

4. What are the four tips on cultural diversity?

5. How can we summarise cultural diversity?

READING

Exercise 3. Match a sentence in A with corresponding sentences in B. Translate the sentences.

 

A	B
An ethnocentric perspective on language that Americans tend to have leads them to view English as a universal language.	Western culture prefers an arm's length of physical personal space while communicating. People from some Latin and Middle Eastern cultures stand closer to each other when speaking.
Different cultures take different approaches to personal space.	In the United States, communicators tend to maintain direct eye contact with others during one-on-one communication. Native American and some Eastern cultures consider direct eye contact disrespectful.
People tend to make assumptions about other cultures.	Though Americans view it as a commodity, other cultures take a much more lax approach to the subject. Some Latin cultures, for example, expect parties to be as much as 30 minutes late when conducting business.
Though direct eye contact is important in Western cultures, other cultures may view it in a different way.	Because many cultures around the globe speak English, Americans may forget that some businesses conduct transactions in other languages or that some individuals don't understand English.
Different cultures take different approaches to time.	Human nature can lead one to use stereotypical images about other cultures. Though some stereotypes may stem from factual observations, many are based on personal beliefs and fears that individuals may hold.

 

Exercise 4. Communicating across cultures carries myriad challenges, and scholars have studied the process for decades. There are six important oral and nonverbal factors that can make a significant difference when communicating with individuals from another culture. To find out what these factors are read and translate the text Barriers to Intercultural Communication.

Use the link http://www.ehow.com/list_6303080_six-barriers-intercultural-communication.html

Exercise 5. In their book 52 Activities for Improving Cross-Cultural Communication Donna M. Stringer and Patricia A. Cassiday point out six primary sources of cross-cultural miscommunication. Match the subtitles of the text with the passages.

Assumption of similarities	Culture influences the way we see the world. Preconceived notions and stereotyping occur when “oversimplified” characteristics are used to judge a group of people or an individual associated with a group.
Language differences	The “invisible” aspects of our culture lead us to assume that our communication style and the way of behaving is how “everyone” communicates and behaves. When someone acts differently, we judge them negatively.
Non-verbal misinterpretations	When we hear communication or observe behaviour, we tend to interpret the message or the action through our cultural lens. We may evaluate the message or behaviour as “good” or “bad” without really understanding the intent.
Preconceptions and stereotypes	We send and receive wordless messages through body language, facial expression, and eye contact. Even clothing style can communicate an intended or unintended message.
Tendency to evaluate	Not understanding what is appropriate or expected can raise our anxiety level. Miscommunication can be a direct result of being in an anxious state.
High anxiety	Speaking a non-native language can easily lead to miscommunication. Even people speaking the same language can experience misunderstanding because the same word can mean something very different. For example, “pop” on the west coast of the United States usually means a soda drink, while on the east coast it often refers to shooting someone. These differences can have serious miscommunication impact.

 

Exercise 6. Using the Internet resource http://www.amazon.com find a book 52 Activities for Improving Cross-Cultural Communication by Donna M. Stringer and Patricia A. Cassiday. In the Introduction (pp. x – xi) read about Cross-cultural miscommunication and check your answers.

GRAMMAR

 

Grammar Revision: Tenses

 

Exercise 7. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb. Translate the sentences.

1. Most businesses and other organisations __________ across cultures every day of the week.

a) are working

b) work

c) worked

 

2. Just because the globalisation of business __________, cultural differences are not necessarily diminishing.

a) increase

b) increases

c) is increasing

 

3. Breaking the ice before a business meeting is a good idea and __________ everyone more comfortable and able to talk freely.

a) will make

b) will have made

c) have made

 

4. The fusion of cultures __________ a unique and colourful set of traditions and social etiquette in Mexico.

a) have created

b) has created

c) had created

 

5. “Where are you from?” is a tough question to ask in the UK, as it can be seen as culturally insensitive. It is better to ask something like "Where __________?"

a) have you travelled

b) do you travel

c) did you travel

 

6. Referring to the whole United Kingdom as England, or referring to UK citizens as "the English" __________ Scottish or Irish people.

a) will have offended

b) offended

c) will offend

 

7. In many ways, in the post-1949 period in China, gender relations __________ under the Chinese Communist Party.

a) changed

b) had changed

c) have changed

 

8. Many people in China __________ and lived abroad and may be more comfortable and knowledgeable about your culture than you are about theirs.

a) worked

b) have worked

c) had worked

 

9. Germans enjoy telling people about their last trip or where they __________ to go for their vacation.

a) have planned

b) had planned

c) are planning

 

10. Peter the Great __________ St. Petersburg, __________ Russian army and __________ Russian navy.

a) has established, reorganized, built

b) had established, had reorganized, had built

c) established, reorganized, built

Vocabulary to learn

1. affect sth /sb

2. appropriate / inappropriate

3. assume sth / assumption

4. attitude

5. awareness

6. background culture

7. break the ice

8. dimension of culture

9. definition / define

10. challenge

11. consider

12. common

13. come into contact with sb

14. conduct transactions

15. cultural issue

16. cultural perception

17. cultural diversity

18. environment

19. encounter with sb

20. evaluate sth

21. fusion of cultures

22. identity

23. interact with sb

24. insensitive

25. intercultural communication

26. judge sb/sth

 27. maintain eye contact with sb

28. obstacle

29. take an approach

30. tolerant of sth

UNIT 2

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