Identifying and Addressing Intercultural Challenges in Online Communications

1. Identifying and Addressing Intercultural Challenges in Online Communications Sandy Wagner Assistant Professor Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center Presidio of Monterey

2. Disclaimer The views, opinions, and/or findings contained in this presentation are those of the author and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy, or decision, or as views of Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center.

3. Discussion Agenda *) • Defining CALL • The role of culture in CALL • Cultural challenges • Meeting the Challenges in CALL Environments

4. So, what’s CALL about?Can you guess the acronyms? Computer-assisted language learning Computer-mediated communications Social Networking Sites Web-based Distance Learning

5. More About CMC Computer Mediated Communication (CMC), which has existed in primitive form since the 1960s but has only became wide-spread in the last five years, is probably the single computer application to date with the greatest impact on language teaching . ~ Mark Warschauer, http://www.ict4lt.org/en/warschauer.htm

6. CALL Environments that use CMC

7. Considerations Globalization allows learners from all over the world and diverse cultures to share information Use of Emoticons to express emotions, feelings, abbreviated concepts in place of f2f support for meaning Asynchronous (anytime, anyplace) mode of delivery precludes immediate response and clarification of misunderstandings Synchronous (same time, anyplace) mode of delivery requires monitoring of postings, turn taking and netiquette (online etiquette) Amplification of rhetorical differences may cause cross-cultural misunderstandings

8. The Role of Culture in CALL Opportunity to learn about other cultures “Learning about another culture can help students not only understand that culture better but understand their own culture Better” (Kitao & Kitao, 1996) Language and Culture cannot be separated “…. language is not only part of how we define culture, it also reflects culture. Linguists and anthropologists have long recognized that the forms and uses of a given language reflect the cultural values of the society in which the language is spoken.” Center for Applied Linguisticshttp://www.cal.org/resources/Digest/0309peterson.html

9. Cultural Challenges o_O

10. Cultural Misconceptions and Miscommunications “The constant diffusion of online communication technology …allows individuals from different cultural backgrounds to communicate with each other directly and quickly. However, such technologies…may amplify cultural rhetorical differences.“ (St. Amant, K., 2002)

11. So, what do you mean to say?

12. Is Las Vegas really for sale?

13. He means he agrees with C – not physically with him The weather is just too cold in Chicago to live there all year round. J Really? I don’t think it’s that bad and the restaurants are great! C S I am with C. J Oh, really? What’s the occasion?

14. Email What is the meaning of the message? No means of clarification. Soor, I got it . It was junk. The test papers are with me heck it and give it to u on sundie

15. What’s ur email addy I’m so sorry you lost your job. lol BYB MNC Can we MIRL? AAK Be right Back. Mother nature calls Text Messaging Can we meet in real time? Laugh out Loud? Or Lots of Luck! Asleep at the keyboard

16. Online Discussion Please address me as Frau Schmidt! Hey, Prof, can you answer a question for me? my right hand is out again -- her 2-year-old has a bad stomach virus and fever.

17. :S

20. Interpretations of Emoticons Americans Japanese When it comes to emotions Eastern and Western cultures see things differently People interpret emoticons in light of their cultural background, leaving them open to misinterpretation Emoticons are used to Supplement nonverbal cues http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2007/05/emoticons-carry-cultural-baggage.ars

21. Cultural distance problems of distance learners who are misinformed because of their cultural distance • Teaching methods and learning environments that do not promote communications and interactions with teachers and other learners • Example: Hong Kong students – shy, passive, reactive, inarticulate, non-collaborative, timid (SPRINT) Wong, L & Trinidad, S.G. (2004). Using Web-Based Distance Learning to Reduce Cultural Distance

22. Cultural Variables • Monochronic versus Polychronic • Past Orientation / Future Orientation • Individualism versus Collectivism • High Context / Low Context • Power Distance

23. CMC Cultural Expectations

24. Index by Country

25. Evolving CMC Culture • Pidgin language of emoticons, acronyms, and expressions understood by some but not all • Generational divide: digital immigrants / digital natives • Cultural perceptions of online behavior

26. The solution: Promoting Cultural Competence The benefits of CALL and CMC warrant considerations of how to promote cultural competence: • Studies show evidence of deeper critical thinking in the computer conferencing environment • Electronic partnerships over an extended period of time foster greater shared understandings • Collaborative learning, as fostered in the use of computer conferencing and other CMCs, has the potential to foster interaction and social support lacking in traditional learning environments in addition for the opportunity for collaborative interaction Kyong-Jee, K. & Bonk, C. (2002) http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol18/issue1/kimandbonk.html

27. Center for Applied Linguisticshttp://www.cal.org/resources/Digest/0309peterson.html Language learners need to be aware of the culturally appropriate ways to address people, express gratitude, make requests, and agree or disagree with someone. They should know that behaviors and intonation patterns that are appropriate in their own speech community may be perceived differently by members of the target language speech community. They have to understand that, in order for communication to be successful, language use must be associated with other culturally appropriate behavior and that culture is inherently tied to many of the linguistic concepts taught in second language classes

28. Good cultural communicators understand.. • How to communicate across cultures in addition to developing linguistic fluency. • There are differences and similarities between and among cultures. • Reality in the target language culture may not meet expectations in other cultures. • Culture is not only what can be seen on the surface, but those aspects that hold deeper meaning and significance for natives of the target language.

29. 1. Interest curiosity about a culture and empathy towards its members 4. Where/When react appropriately 2. Who role expectations that Affect the way people speak and behave 5. Why reasons people of a culture act the way they do 3. What Cultural connotations of words and actions 6. Exploration Evaluate cultural truths Seelye’s Six Instructional Goals:A Model for Cultural Competence Adapted from: Teaching Culture: Strategies for Intercultural Communication H. Ned Seelye (1997)

30. Goals and Instruction “When communication is between people with different world views, special skills are required if the messages received are to resemble the messages sent.” -H. Ned Seelye, 1997 Now I can express myself. You make it sound like a good thing.

31. Goal 1: Interest

32. Perceptions / Miscommunications How to get along with Americans “They have money, technology, and nerve…We would be wise to get acquainted with them. Some do’s: Greet them with a brief “Hi”. Speak without emotion. Radiate congeniality and show a good disposition – a big smile and a warm expression are essential. Learn how to play golf. Don’t tamper with your accent-Americans find French accents very romantic.” -Francois Lierres (from Brown, 2000) 32

33. Perceptions http://martawilliams.com/kitty.htm

34. Goal 2

35. American Korean Hebrew German Arabic Hindi Chinese Japanese http://www.ipl.org/div/hello 35

36. Goal 3

37. UNDER CONTROLThis is time of year for controlled burnsBy BRITTANY GRAYSONHerald Staff Writer (www.montereyherald.com) Every year about this time, clouds of smoke rise above Monterey County from controlled burns set to reclaim thousands of acres of ranch land. At Fort Ord, the military has initiated control burns both to burn away old vegetation and to expose old unexploded ordnance. Fire has "been around a long time" and plays a key role in California's ecosystem, said Bruce Delgado, a botanist with the Bureau of Land Management at Ford Ord. Fire fosters new plant growth by weeding out old, dead plants. "It's like reviving the web of life by starting fresh," said Delgado. Many rare plants, including the Monterey manzanita and the fire poppy, require regular fires to reproduce. This process also works to the advantage of ranchers and timber harvesters: burning often improves the quality and growth of vegetation on their land. Controlled burns also remove plant litter and debris that could fuel a wildfire, said Doug

38. Non-verbal Communication Off Line The Japanese gesture means "angry." The French gesture means "I don't believe you." On Line >:O (o_@) Angry, extremely disturbed

39. Use of idioms / words in context From a Yahoo Chat: C: …..and my right hand is out again S:…..(thinking..hmmm, poor C. I wonder what happened to her hand) C: my right hand is out again -- her 2-year-old has a bad stomach virus and fever.

40. Goal 4

41. Practice Netiquette 1. Your close friend emails that her mother has passed away. 2. Introduce yourself on a Discussion thread. 3. Someone flames you.

42. Chinese Custom Facebook allows you to send “gifts” to friends you have allowed on your site. What might be an appropriate “gift” to send. a. a clock b. white flowers c. a box of candy d. a set of four wine glasses Though four is an even number, it reads like death in Chinese thus is avoided. So is pear for being a homophone of separation. And a gift of clock sounds like attending other's funeral so it is a taboo, too. As connected with death and sorrow, black and white are also the last in the choice. Gift giving is unsuitable in public except for some souvenirs. http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa031901a.htm

43. Goal 5

44. A cultural scenario I was sitting in the London underground one day, minding my own business, reading a magazine and waiting for the train to arrive. All of a sudden I looked up and saw a British man staring at me. He was standing to the right of me, about one foot away and could not take his eyes off me. My initial reaction was to just ignore him, so I looked up at him, smiled, and then continued to read my magazine. No longer than two seconds later, I heard him say, "You're American, aren't you?" I immediately responded by saying, "Yes, how did you know?" He said, "Because..."

45. …you kindly smiled at me!” Smiling and being friendly to strangers is a huge US-American culture characteristic. British people are, very often, not friendly to complete strangers and consider others who smile randomly at people they don’t know as rather odd.

46. Goal 6 http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/culture.htm

47. NIKE'S CHINESE APOLOGY Nike, the multinational athletic shoe and sportswear giant, issued an apology to Chinese customers Friday, not long after China banned its new television commercial "Chamber of Fear" for insulting Chinese national dignity. "Nike Inc. is sorry for concerns and worries aroused among Chinese customers after the commercial was aired, and we by no means disrespect Chinese culture," it said in a statement sent to major Chinese newspapers and web media based in Beijing, Shanghai,and Guangzhou. The commercial, broadcast on local Chinese stations and on state television's national sports channel, shows 19-year-old NBA star LeBron James defeating a kung fu master, two women in traditional Chinese attire and a pair of dragons, symbols of traditional Chinese culture.  The State Administration for Radio, Film and Television on Monday said in a statement issued on Dec. 3 that the commercial "violates regulations that mandate that all advertisements in China should uphold national dignity and interest and respect the motherland's culture." http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/09/content_2314785.htm

48. Cultural Interview Listen to the video to find answers about being on time in Chinese culture. 1. Is it important to be on time for business meetings? 2. What should you do if you were going to be late for a meeting? 3. What was the most important thing you found out about being on time?

49. In the Mind of the Beholder How would you respond? • A person comes to a chat meeting half an hour after the stated starting time. • Someone flames you in a discussion thread. • You receive this text message: Sorry. It got it. It was junk. • Someone makes the OK gesture at you using an emoticon.

50. Task Goal Recap: Seelye’s Six Organizing Goals 50