INTER-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

CULTURE SHOCK

Participating in a new education system means that you are, essentially, participating in a new culture. This means that students and, in some cases, locally engaged staff, can expect to experience a type of culture shock. Culture shock refers to those feelings of confusionand unease that you may experience when you are trying to participate in a different culture. This is nothing to be worried about. It is perfectly normal for people to experience these feelings.

It is important to understand that participating in a new culture does not mean forgetting about your own culture. Your own culture plays a fundamental role in determining your identity. It is not necessary to change your identity in order to participate in another culture. However, if students wish to graduate with a degree from UTAS, they must be able to demonstrate that they can meet the learning expectations characteristic of Western culture.

Nor does participating in a new culture mean you have to agreewith all aspects of that culture. However, different cultures should respectone another’s differences. Even though ways of behaving in a different culture may notmake sense to an ‘outsider’, they do make sense to the people in that culture.

DIFFERENT WAYS OF COMMUNICATING

Storti (2001) claims that most cultural misunderstanding arises when other people do not behave the way we expect them to behave. The way we communicate with each othervaries from one culture to another. Most importantly, the way we interpret different ways of communicating varies from one culture to another. Much misunderstanding occurs when people from different cultures do not understand each other’s ways of communicating. Unfortunately, for many people, the first realisation that there are different ways of communicating in different cultures is when they ‘break’ one of the ‘cultural rules’. This misunderstanding is complicated further when a different language is spoken.

Below are someexamples of different ways that cultures communicate:

  • Proximity. Differing attitudes towards personal space can be the cause of many misunderstandings between cultures. In some cultures it is considered polite to stand very close to a person when you talk to them. In other cultures it is considered polite to stand a long distance apart. When one culture feels offended by, or misinterprets, the intention of another in their use of personal space, problems are bound to arise.
  • Greetings. In some cultures it is considered polite to shake hands firmly with a person when you first meet them. In other cultures it is considered polite to shake hands softlyand only with males, not females.
  • The way gestures are used. The meaning of gestures such as nodding the head, pointing a finger, shaking a fist, or raising an eyebrow. varies from one culture to anther. In some cultures nodding your head means ‘yes’. In another culture it can mean ‘no’. The potential for misunderstanding is clear.
  • Apologising.In some cultures, it is considered polite to apologise for many things such as telephoning late at night, arriving late or bumping into someone in the street. In other cultures such apology is considered unnecessary.
  • Involvement in conflict situations. In some cultures people actively avoidconflict. It is important to them that they respect their own and other people’s reputations. Sometimes this is referred to as ‘saving face’. In other cultures, people seekconflict situations. They see conflict as an opportunity to express their personal feelings and as a possible way to find a solution to a problem.
  • How time is valued. In some cultures time is considered to be very flexible. This means that people will often turn up late for appointments and it is considered perfectly acceptable. In other cultures time is very important and it is considered very rude to arrive late for an appointment.
  • The way people use their bodies. In some cultures it is considered acceptable to belch after a meal, spit in the street or publicly display emotions. In other cultures these behaviours are considered totally unacceptable.
  • How eye contact is used. In some cultures making eye contact with a person when talking is considered polite, because to look away when talking to someone is interpreted as untrustworthy. Yet, in other cultures it is considered disrespectful to make eye contact, especially with someone in authority.
  • Sharing a meal. In some cultures people leave the house or restaurant immediately after the meal is finished. This is considered polite by some people, because to stay longer implies that you are still hungry - that your hosts have not supplied enough food for you. Other cultures would interpret this early leaving as very rude. It is considered polite to stay and chat after a meal.
  • Gift giving. In some cultures it is considered polite to open gifts in public. In other cultures this is considered rude.
  • Length of pauses in turn taking. The timing of pauses between speakers in a conversation varies between cultures. This can cause confusion, even offence, as speakers from different cultures attempt to gauge the appropriate time to intervene in a conversation. Long pauses, for example, can leave some speakers fearful that they have said or done something inappropriate when, in actual fact, long pauses may simply be characteristic of communication patterns in that culture.
  • Asking personal questions. For people from cultures where personal business is considered just that – personal – it can be confronting to be asked, when meeting someone from another culture where such personal boundaries are not so strictly observed, “How much money do you earn?”
  • Interacting with the opposite sex. Same sex or mixed-sex interactions are viewed differently in different cultures. For example, in some cultures it is considered perfectly acceptable for same sex couples to hold hands. In other cultures this is not seen as acceptable. In some cultures men and women eat at different tables. In some situations public space is considered to be ‘male space’.
  • When ‘yes’ means ‘no’. Some cultures are completely confounded by the way that other cultures say ‘yes’ when really they mean ‘no’. This is not about being deceitful. It is more much closely aligned with the concept of ‘saving face’. For example, it would be considered rude and impolite to say ‘no’ to a superior in some circumstances. There is an implicitunderstanding that saying ‘yes’ really means ‘no’ in such situations. It is considered by such cultures to be merely a polite, ritualistic response – nothing more. In fact, some languages do not even have a word for ‘no’. This can lead to confusion.

Once you knowhow other cultures communicate, a lot of the misunderstanding disappears. It is not about deciding which culture is ‘right’ and which culture is ‘wrong’. It is not about one culture being ‘better’ or ‘superior’ to another. It is about understanding that cultures are different. It is important to discover what those differences are when participating in a different culture.

Understanding a different culture is also about understanding that culture’s language. It is essential that all UTAS classes are taught in English.

BECOMING SKILLED IN INTER-CULTURAL

COMMUNICATION

Ignorance of different ways of communicating means that cultural boundaries or norms are often transgressed. Those things that help make you a success and bring you rewards in your own culture can actually be the cause of your ‘failing’ in another culture. This can be quite distressing as you engage in behaviour which in your culture, is perfectly appropriate, polite and well intentioned, yet is not interpreted in the same way in other cultures. These mistakes are usually made innocently but the ramifications, in terms of inter-cultural relationships, can be serious and long term.

It is essential to be informed about inter-personal communication styles in the culture in which you will be participating. Only then, will the potential for misunderstanding be minimized.

Inter-cultural communication is a much investigated phenomenon. A number of strategies have been forwarded for minimizing inter-cultural misunderstanding. These include:

  • Try not to over-generalise.

Even though generalizations can be made about the way people behave in certain cultures, it is important to remember that every one is an individual. Not all people behave in the same way. For example, while many people in Western cultures are very direct and open in their conversation with others, there are some Western people who are quiet and shy. Similarly, while it is considered polite to arrive on time for appointments in Western cultures, some people do arrive late.

  • Try to understand situations from the other culture’s point of view.

Most people tend to understand and explain situations from the point of view of their own culture. In other words, they see, understand and explain situations through their own ‘cultural eyes’. When they see or experience something that is different, they usually have a negative reaction to it. If you find yourself in a situation that you don’t understand or makes you feel confused, try asking yourself how the other culture would explain that situation. For example, it is UTAS policy for exam classes to be invigilated by people not teaching in that unit. This applies to all classes and all teachers in all units. It is designed to ensure equity; it is not about passing judgement on teachers’ honesty.

  • Try to focus on the problem, not the person(O’Sullivan, 1994).

If you are experiencing difficulty understanding a situation, try not to judge or get frustrated or angry with the personinvolved. Rather, it is more helpful and productive to focus on the problem (situation) and how it can be solved.

  • Ask if you are confused or you don’t understand.

You should ask for help in understanding a situation if you are confused or unsure. This prevents ‘jumping to conclusions’ and making a quick decision about a situation with out really investigating it or thinking about it.