1. Cross-cultural communication: Effectively communicating with others from around the world

2. International Student Services • Liaise between Dept. of Homeland Security and the University • Manage international enrollment standards for university based on SC Illegal Immigration Act of 2008 • Serving international students on campus with advising services and programming…

3. International Student Services • Advising includes: • Immigration • Cultural • Personal • Programming includes: • New student orientation • CGC • Int’l Ed Week • Workshops

4. International Students at USC France Colombia Germany South Korea 155 students Brazil India 350 students Angola Turkey China Saudi Arabia Oman Geo Game

5. Fall 2009 demographics Fall ‘09 All campuses: 1347 students Fall ‘09 Columbia: 1186

6. Stepping across cultural and language boundaries • First and foremost: • RESPECT • SINCERITY • Know basic cultural tenets when possible • Speak clearly and slowly as needed • Do NOT shout. Volume is not an issue • Avoid slang, idioms and heavy accent • Writing may be better than speaking

7. You might be misunderstood if… IDIOMS • Come up with • Deal with • For good • Go ahead • Go on • In fact • On the other hand • Point out • Produce/create/find • To be concerned about • Permanently • Begin • Continue • Basically • Looking at the opposite side of … • Explain, show Clearly expressed

8. You might be misunderstood if… IDIOMS • Did you figure it out? • Do you get it? • Make up (work) • Can you make it to your appointment? • Did you solve it? • Do you understand? • Re-do or repeat (work) • Will you be able to arrive on time? Clearly expressed

9. Basic Cultural Communication Styles “Hot Climate” Cultures • Japanese • Chinese • Arabic • Mexican • Greek • Latin American • U.S. (American) • Canadian • Western/Northern European “Cold Climate” Cultures

10. “Hot Climate” Cultures • Knowledge is situational, relational • Less verbally explicit, written or formally expressed • More internalized understandings of what is communicated (ex: "in-jokes") • Stable, long term, well-established relationships are common • Decisions and activities focus around personal face-to-face communication • Strong awareness of who is accepted/belongs vs. "outsiders" • Authority is very important • EXAMPLE: Family reunions

11. “Hot Climate” Communication • Verbal message is often indirect • Communication is an art of engagement • Voice tone, eye contact, gestures are important • Relationships are built over time, are long-lasting and center on trust • Disagreement is personal • Group problem-solving is preferred • Learning occurs by watching model first, then practice • Accuracy is valued • Identity rooted in group (work, family, religion)

12. “Cold Climate” Cultures • Rules oriented: there’s a procedure for everything • Most knowledge is codified, public, external, and accessible. • Sequencing, separation--of time, of space, of activities, of relationships • More interpersonal connections of shorter duration • Task-centered. Decisions and activities focus around what needs to be done, division of responsibilities. • Example: Airports

13. “Cold Climate” Communication • Words are most important tool • Knowledge is transferable • Verbal message is direct • Learning is by following directions, focus on detail. Speed is valued • Individual work is preferred • Disagreement is rational, not personal • Identity rooted in self and accomplishments

14. Communication Styles • Influenced by: • Personality • Culture • Family • Values • Perception • Situation • Do All Americans communicate the same way? • Consider regional differences • Family/value differences Avoid Stereotyping!

15. Keep in mind… Our similarities far outweigh our differences!

16. References and suggested sources: • Saphiere, D.F., Mikk, B.K., & DeVries, B.I. (2005) Communication Highwire: leveraging the power of diverse communication styles. Yarmouth, ME, USA: Intercultural Press. • http://hubpages.com/hub/High-Context-vs-Low-Context-Communication • Agar, M. (1994). Language Shock/Understanding the Culture of Conversation. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc. Lanier, Sarah A. (2000) Foreign to Familiar: A guide for understanding hot- and cold-climate cultures. Hagerstown, MD: Macdougall Publishing.

17. Thank you!! International Student Services University of South Carolina 901 Sumter St, #123 Byrnes Columbia, SC 29208 T: (803) 777-7461 F: (803) 777-0462 www.sa.sc.edu/iss Questions or comments? Email: iss@sc.edu