7.4 Activities and Applications
From theory to practice…
- Practice active listening and mindful observation. That includes watching out for tones, gestures, body language, and facial expressions. Pauses or silence may be sending a message. Hearing the other person out “gives face”, showing that you respect that person and his/her views.
- In intercultural encounters, be prepared and willing to have your ego bruised and your worldview challenged. It’s difficult for many people to be open to alternative views in particular areas, such as lifestyle, politics, or religion. Successful intercultural encounters do not require you to change your views and convictions, but they do require a willingness to accept that others have a right to different beliefs. It’s helpful to keep in mind that worldviews are socially constructed.
- Have realistic expectations of both traveling and returning home. Imagined journeys often have little relationship to the lived experience. Knowing the language of the host culture can be a tremendous boost in adjusting, but it won’t necessarily provide a seamless transition. You may well find that the language you learned in the classroom is quite different from what’s spoken on the streets. Upon your return, you shouldn’t expect friends and family to be as enthusiastic as you about aspects of the culture you have experienced. Be prepared for indifference.
- Be as informed as possible about the host country (i.e. customs, geography, politics), but also about your own country. When abroad, others will see you as an informant when it comes to your own culture and expect you to have knowledge about cultural institutions, politics, sports, etc. They may well expect you to have an opinion about current events they have read about or seen on the news. Before you leave, it’s good to learn basic facts about the physical and cultural geography of the country you are visiting, such as largest cities, major transportation networks, regional differences.
For discussion and reflection…
- On conflict…
After watching the video on intercultural conflict styles…
How would you describe your conflict communication style? Give an example of a conflict and what role you played in its resolution (or lack of resolution).
After reading the article, “Keeping face in China“…
How would you compare the importance of “face” in Asian cultures and in the U.S? Is respect (not getting “dissed”) important to you? Is it important in your dealings with others?
- Am I rootless or am I free?
After reading “Am I rootless, or am I free? ‘Third culture kids’ like me make it up as we go along“…
What are advantages and disadvantages of growing up as a “third-culture kid”? What different perspectives might one have growing up this way? - On acculturation…
Think about planning a trip to another country. What preparations would you make to ease the acculturation process? Have you ever experienced culture shock or reverse culture shock? Describe your experiences.
- On mediated encounters and the internet…
After watching the TED videos by Turkle and Edry…
Comment on the two different views on connecting with others through the Internet, and the notion of “I share, therefore I am”. How do the views presented correspond to your experience using social media?
