This workshop covered cross-cultural communication and competency. The goals were to increase awareness of how cultural differences affect communication and increase competence in communicating effectively across cultures. Various terms related to culture and communication were defined. Components of non-verbal communication were discussed. Bias-free discussion and developing competency were also covered. The workshop concluded that understanding communication styles and cultural influences is important for building relationships across cultures and using bias-free language promotes effective cross-cultural communication.

1. Cross-Cultural CommunicationCross-Cultural Communication
& Competency& Competency
Hiram Jamison IVHiram Jamison IV
Multicultural Center, PacificMulticultural Center, Pacific

2. FlowFlow
 Welcome & IntroductionsWelcome & Introductions
 Goals for this WorkshopGoals for this Workshop
 Community Agreements & GuidelinesCommunity Agreements & Guidelines
 ActivityActivity
 Terms & DefinitionsTerms & Definitions
 Cross Cultural CommunicationCross Cultural Communication
 Self AssessmentSelf Assessment
 A Tool for CompetencyA Tool for Competency
 Question & AnswerQuestion & Answer

3. Goals for this workshopGoals for this workshop
 Increase awareness & knowledge of howIncrease awareness & knowledge of how
cultural, educational, religious, gender,cultural, educational, religious, gender,
language, value, and various other differenceslanguage, value, and various other differences
affect our communication with each otheraffect our communication with each other
 Increase our competence in communicatingIncrease our competence in communicating
effectively and appropriately within oureffectively and appropriately within our
respective organization.respective organization.

4. Community Agreements/GuidelinesCommunity Agreements/Guidelines
 RRespectespect
 SStep Up/Step Asidetep Up/Step Aside
 PPresence/Participationresence/Participation
 CConfidentialityonfidentiality
 TTakeake risks/Trust/Try-onrisks/Trust/Try-on
 II statementsstatements
 OOne Mic/ Divane Mic/ Diva
 Have FunHave Fun
Trust that dialogue and the process will take us to a
deeper level of understanding and acceptance

5. Planning a WeddingPlanning a Wedding

6. Understanding TermsUnderstanding Terms

7. Terms & DefinitionsTerms & Definitions
 Communication:1Communication:1:: an act or instance of transmittingan act or instance of transmitting
 2 a2 a:: informationinformation communicatedcommunicated bb:: a verbal or writtena verbal or written
message 3 amessage 3 a:: a process by which information isa process by which information is
exchanged between individuals through a commonexchanged between individuals through a common
system of symbols, signs, or behavior;system of symbols, signs, or behavior; alsoalso ::
exchange of information bexchange of information b:: personal rapportpersonal rapport pluralplural
but sing or plural in constrbut sing or plural in constr aa:: a technique fora technique for
expressing ideas effectively (as in speech) bexpressing ideas effectively (as in speech) b:: thethe
technology of the transmission of information (as bytechnology of the transmission of information (as by
print , electronic or telecommunication)print , electronic or telecommunication)
-taken from Webster Dictionary

8. Terms and DefinitionsTerms and Definitions
 CultureCulture
 ““Culture is those deep, common, unstated,Culture is those deep, common, unstated,
learned experiences which members of alearned experiences which members of a
given culture share, which theygiven culture share, which they
communicatecommunicate knowinglyknowingly andand withoutwithout
knowingknowing, and which form the backdrop, and which form the backdrop
against which all other events are judged”against which all other events are judged”
-- excerpt from Edward Hall, a cross cultural theoristexcerpt from Edward Hall, a cross cultural theorist

9. Terms & DefinitionsTerms & Definitions
 StereotypeStereotype
 A generalization applied to every person in aA generalization applied to every person in a
cultural group; a fixed conception of a groupcultural group; a fixed conception of a group
without allowing for individuality. When wewithout allowing for individuality. When we
believe our stereotypes, we tend to…believe our stereotypes, we tend to…
 Ignore characteristics that don’t conform to ourIgnore characteristics that don’t conform to our
stereotypestereotype
 Rationalize what we see to fit our stereotypeRationalize what we see to fit our stereotype
 See those who do not conform as “exceptions”See those who do not conform as “exceptions”
 Find ways to create the expected characteristicsFind ways to create the expected characteristics

10. CulturalCultural
Book of RulesBook of Rules
Gender
Sexual Orientation
Education
Occupation
Age
Race/Ethnicity
Class
Ability
Religion
Values
Power
Experience

11. Communication StyleCommunication Style
AssessmentAssessment

12. Components of Non-VerbalComponents of Non-Verbal
Communication AssessmentCommunication Assessment
 MovementsMovements
 Facial ExpressionsFacial Expressions
 GesturesGestures
 Space & TouchSpace & Touch
 ParalanguageParalanguage
 ToneTone
 AccentAccent
 InflectionInflection
 PitchPitch

13. Bias-Free DiscussionBias-Free Discussion
and Competencyand Competency
 Bias-Free vs. “PC” (Politically Correct)Bias-Free vs. “PC” (Politically Correct)
 Use of languageUse of language
 Commitment to changeCommitment to change

14. ConclusionConclusion
 Understanding your communication styles isUnderstanding your communication styles is
important in wanting to effectively buildimportant in wanting to effectively build
relationships and work with othersrelationships and work with others
 Discovering how yours and other’s culturalDiscovering how yours and other’s cultural
book of rules affect communication stylesbook of rules affect communication styles
amongst you all is importantamongst you all is important
 Using bias-free language is one form ofUsing bias-free language is one form of
competency you can use in effectivelycompetency you can use in effectively
communicating cross culturally with otherscommunicating cross culturally with others

15. QuestionsQuestions

16. EvaluationsEvaluations

17. If different, then what and how?If different, then what and how?
 What are some other activities and other stylesWhat are some other activities and other styles
of workshops (ie: modules) you could haveof workshops (ie: modules) you could have
used that was different to present the sameused that was different to present the same
content?content?
 Use one of these:Use one of these:
 AwarenessAwareness
 KnowledgeKnowledge
 SkillSkill
 EmpathyEmpathy
 & Learning Styles& Learning Styles

18. Almost
Always
Frequently Sometimes Almost
Never
1. Pay full attention to the speaker’s message instead of what that
person looks like?
4 3 2 1
2. Assume you know what the speaker will say and quickly start
thinking of other things?
4 3 2 1
3. Listen carefully to others whose opinions are different than
your own
4 3 2 1
4. Make extra effort when you hear an accent? 4 3 2 1
5. Avoid listening if it will take extra effort to understand? 4 3 2 1
6. Listen without making judgments? 4 3 2 1
7. Let own emotions get in the way? 4 3 2 1
8. Make the speaker think you’re giving your full attention even if
you’re thinking about other things?
4 3 2 1
9. Figure out and acknowledge the feelings that the speaker may
be experiencing?
4 3 2 1
10. Attempt to determine the purpose of the communication 4 3 2 1
11. Talk more than listen? 4 3 2 1
12. Become distracted easily by external sounds, people or
events?
4 3 2 1
13. Summarize in your own words what you heard the speaker
say?
4 3 2 1
14. Turn your listening experience into a learning one, especially
regarding differences in people, places and ideas?
4 3 2 1
15. Start thinking what you will say while the speaker is still
talking?
4 3 2 1
16. Recognize your “hot buttons” and not let them get in the way
of your listening?
4 3 2 1
17. Interrupt without giving the speaker opportunity to finish the
thought?
4 3 2 1
18. Check assumptions about the message, the messenger, and the
means of communication before you respond?
4 3 2 1
Listening AssessmentListening Assessment