Post on 16-Dec-2015
Cross-cultural communication:
Effectively communicating with others from around the world
International Student Services
Liaise between Dept. of Homeland Security and the University
Manage international enrollment standards for university based on SC Illegal Immigration Act of 2008
Serving international students on campus with advising services and programming…
International Student Services
Advising includes:› Immigration› Cultural › Personal
Programming includes:› New student orientation› CGC› Int’l Ed Week› Workshops
International Students at USC
India
China
South Korea
France
ColombiaGermany
Oman
Angola
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Brazil
Geo Game
155 students
350
students
FALL 2
00
9 D
EM
OG
RA
PH
ICS
•Fall ‘09 All campuses: 1347 students•Fall ‘09 Columbia: 1186
China 350 (30%)
South/East Asia 221
(19%)Europe 164 (14%)
India 155 (13%)
Middle East 110 (9%)
North America 72 (6%)
Africa 51 (4%)South America 50 (4%)
Central America and the Car-ibbean 9 (1%)
Australia/Pacific 4 (<1%)
Stepping across cultural and language boundaries
First and foremost: › RESPECT› SINCERITY
Know basic cultural tenets when possible
Speak clearly and slowly as needed Do NOT shout. Volume is not an issue Avoid slang, idioms and heavy accent Writing may be better than speaking
You might be misunderstood if…
IDIOMS Clearly expressed
Come up with Deal with For good Go ahead Go on In fact On the other
hand Point out
Produce/create/find To be concerned about Permanently Begin Continue Basically Looking at the opposite
side of … Explain, show
You might be misunderstood if…
IDIOMS Clearly expressed
Did you figure it out?
Do you get it? Make up
(work) Can you make
it to your appointment?
Did you solve it? Do you
understand? Re-do or repeat
(work) Will you be able to
arrive on time?
Basic Cultural Communication Styles
“Hot Climate” Cultures “Cold Climate” Cultures
Japanese Chinese Arabic Mexican Greek Latin
American
U.S. (American) Canadian Western/Northern
European
“Hot Climate” Cultures Knowledge is situational, relational Less verbally explicit, written or formally
expressed More internalized understandings of what is
communicated (ex: "in-jokes") Stable, long term, well-established relationships
are common Decisions and activities focus around personal
face-to-face communication Strong awareness of who is accepted/belongs vs.
"outsiders" Authority is very important EXAMPLE: Family reunions
“Hot Climate” Communication
Verbal message is often indirect Communication is an art of engagement Voice tone, eye contact, gestures are important Relationships are built over time, are long-lasting
and center on trust Disagreement is personal Group problem-solving is preferred Learning occurs by watching model first, then
practice Accuracy is valued Identity rooted in group (work, family, religion)
“Cold Climate” Cultures
Rules oriented: there’s a procedure for everything
Most knowledge is codified, public, external, and accessible.
Sequencing, separation--of time, of space, of activities, of relationships
More interpersonal connections of shorter duration
Task-centered. Decisions and activities focus around what needs to be done, division of responsibilities.
Example: Airports
“Cold Climate” Communication
Words are most important tool Knowledge is transferable Verbal message is direct Learning is by following directions, focus on
detail. Speed is valued Individual work is preferred Disagreement is rational, not personal Identity rooted in self and
accomplishments
Communication Styles
Influenced by:› Personality› Culture› Family› Values› Perception› Situation
Do All Americans communicate the same way? › Consider regional
differences› Family/value
differences
Avoid Stereotyping!
KEEP IN
MIN
D… Our similarities far outweigh our differences!
References and suggested sources:
Saphiere, D.F., Mikk, B.K., & DeVries, B.I. (2005) Communication Highwire: leveraging the power of diverse communication styles. Yarmouth, ME, USA: Intercultural Press.
http://hubpages.com/hub/High-Context-vs-Low-Context-Communication
Agar, M. (1994). Language Shock/Understanding the Culture of Conversation. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc.
Lanier, Sarah A. (2000) Foreign to Familiar: A guide for understanding hot- and cold-climate cultures. Hagerstown, MD: Macdougall Publishing.
Thank you!!International Student ServicesUniversity of South Carolina901 Sumter St, #123 ByrnesColumbia, SC 29208T: (803) 777-7461F: (803) 777-0462www.sa.sc.edu/iss
QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
Email: iss@sc.edu