Cross-cultural Communication Skills for Life, Study and School Internships in the U.S. TEA Orientation Sept. 22, 2009 – Washington, DC Presented by Deborah Hefferon

Summary… Culture is the norms, values and attitudes shared by a group of people joined by geographic or ethnic ties. Culture is fluid and changes. You can generalize about culture, although you can always find exceptions Culture is learned, not inherited

Culture is the norms, values and attitudes shared by a group of people joined by geographic or ethnic ties.

Culture is fluid and changes.

You can generalize about culture, although you can always find exceptions

Culture is learned, not inherited

Iceberg metaphor Like an iceberg, what you don’t see is what’s dangerous in an intercultural relationship

Like an iceberg, what you don’t see is what’s dangerous in an intercultural relationship

Culture

Universal, cultural or personal Universal = ways in which all people in all groups are the same Cultural = what a particular group of people have in common with each other and how they are different from other groups. Personal = ways in which each one of us is different from everyone else, including those in our group.

Universal = ways in which all people in all groups are the same

Cultural = what a particular group of people have in common with each other and how they are different from other groups.

Personal = ways in which each one of us is different from everyone else, including those in our group.

US Culture and Ethnic Diversity Approximately 30% of the US population claim non-Caucasian ethnicity (African Americans = 12%, Hispanics = 11%) You will become familiar with terms such as “Latino, Hispanic, African American, Asian American” when referring to people of different ethnic groups in the US US citizens, in general, take pride in this diversity Avoid ethnically derogatory comments

Approximately 30% of the US population claim non-Caucasian ethnicity (African Americans = 12%, Hispanics = 11%)

You will become familiar with terms such as “Latino, Hispanic, African American, Asian American” when referring to people of different ethnic groups in the US

US citizens, in general, take pride in this diversity

Avoid ethnically derogatory comments

Cultural Values in the US Individualism (independence) Power (equality) Communication Time Space Competitiveness Environment Action

Individualism (independence)

Power (equality)

Communication

Time

Space

Competitiveness

Environment

Action

Self-awareness -> Cultural Competence Being aware of your own cultural values and attitudes will help you better understand the behavior of your peers, students, and hosts. Cultural competency is the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures. Cultural competency is one of the most important skills for effective leadership

Being aware of your own cultural values and attitudes will help you better understand the behavior of your peers, students, and hosts.

Cultural competency is the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures.

Cultural competency is one of the most important skills for effective leadership

Strategies for Adjusting to New Cultures Realize culture shock is a natural reaction Gather information about the culture/country Re-read cultural orientations/values information Remember: you have gone through transitions before and survived Take care of yourself physically Be flexible and patient

Realize culture shock is a natural reaction

Gather information about the culture/country

Re-read cultural orientations/values information

Remember: you have gone through transitions before and survived

Take care of yourself physically

Be flexible and patient

Strategies for Adjusting to New Cultures Don’t isolate yourself Give yourself permission to make mistakes Don’t forget your sense of humor Don’t hang around with negative people Keep a journal or a blog Share your culture – remember, you are an ambassador for your country! Ask questions!

Don’t isolate yourself

Give yourself permission to make mistakes

Don’t forget your sense of humor

Don’t hang around with negative people

Keep a journal or a blog

Share your culture – remember, you are an ambassador for your country!

Ask questions!

Action Planning + Reflection What are some ways you will demonstrate cultural empathy with your fellow-teachers, students and American colleagues? I am going to be tolerant and respectful with everyone. I’ll do my best to build good relationships with my fellow-teachers, students and America colleagues.

What are some ways you will demonstrate cultural empathy with your fellow-teachers, students and American colleagues?

I am going to be tolerant and respectful with everyone.

I’ll do my best to build good relationships with my fellow-teachers, students and America colleagues.

Action Planning + Reflection What is one cultural value that will be a challenge for you living and working in the US? What will you do to deal with this challenge/difference? Probably individualism, because I’m used to have close relationships and we don’t keep distances between each other. For this, I’ll try to offer my friendship to everyone, respecting everyone’s space.

What is one cultural value that will be a challenge for you living and working in the US? What will you do to deal with this challenge/difference?

Probably individualism, because I’m used to have close relationships and we don’t keep distances between each other. For this, I’ll try to offer my friendship to everyone, respecting everyone’s space.

Action Planning + Reflection What is one goal you will commit to in order to develop your cultural competence? I’ll work hard to interact with others with tolerance and openness

What is one goal you will commit to in order to develop your cultural competence?

I’ll work hard to interact with others with tolerance and openness