Angela Lloyd /Brussels, 8.5.2006 What is intercultural competence?

Angela Lloyd /Brussels, 8.5.2006

What is intercultural competence?

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In Germany, people ...

This kind of information depends on ...- region- age- gender- subculture- context- own experience


Finding out the truth ...

Lists of dos and taboos are not always useful and of limited value when working in

multi-national teams


Observe!


.......................................... • Be aware that the same qualities

and characteristics can have both positive and negative interpretations

• Be aware that the same word can be understood in different ways


Cultural differences mean that people don`t always understand words and expressions in the same way. For example, how many non-Brits would understand the irony behind the expression “up to a point”, which is used to mean

“ not in the slightest”?


1.

Non-native speakers of English usually think “by the way” or “incidentally” means “this is not very important”, but in fact it means ….


“The main purpose of our discussion is...”

2.

The phrase “I'll bear it in mind” means….?


“I'll do nothing about it”.

3.

“Correct me if I'm wrong”

means…..


“I'm right, please don`t contradict me.”

adapted from: The Economist, 9/2004


I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed.I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as

freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.

Mahatma Gandhi


So what are the key intercultural competencies?

• Cultural knowledge

• Emotional strength

• Openness

• Flexibility

• Perceptiveness


So what is intercultural competence?

Intercultural competence is to a large extent the ability to cope with one`s own cultural background in interaction with others.(Bennecke, J. (2000). Intercultural Competence in Bliesener, U. Training the Trainers, Cologne, Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft Verlag)


The first person you meet when you go abroad is

yourself.


References

• www.worldwork.biz

• www.eustudies.org/Summer2005Review

Teaching the EU to Europeans

Fuchs & van der Hout

http://www.worldwork.biz/

http://www.worldwork.biz/

http://www.eustudies.org/Summer2005Review


Reading suggestions

Are You Experienced? by William Sutcliffe (Viking Penguin, 1999)

The Bear Went Over the Mountainby William Kotzwinkle (Owl Books, 1997)

Angela Lloyd /Brussels, 8.5.2006 What is intercultural competence?

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