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Crossing borders: bridging the gaps in intercultural relationships. Autumn Jackson, M.A. Esteban Touma, M.A. Our Intercultural Relationship. Intercultural Relationships.
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Crossing borders: bridging the gaps in intercultural relationships Autumn Jackson, M.A. Esteban Touma, M.A.
Intercultural Relationships • Communication and interactionbetweentwopeoplewithdifferentreligious, social, ethnic, and/or educational experiences • RELATIONSHIP • Love • Work • Business • Studies • COMMUNICATION • Verbal • Non-verbal • Gestures • BodyLanguage • Expressions
Intercultural Relationships Difficultiesinmeetinghalfway Preconceptions Environment Language DifferentValues Time Informality Directness/Honesty
Preconception Cultural conceptions=Individuals What we learned: Intercultural relationships can only develop if people are encouraged to think of the other person as individuals, and to try to put preconceived notions aside.
Environment Environment determines behavior Rules and norms are determined by environment. Not being in your own environment might be confusing.
Environment 60% of allcommunicationis non-verbal Howdoesyourbehaviorchange in differentcircumstances? Wedding Hospital Day at thebeach Whatwelearned: Empathy. Try tovisualizeyourownenvironmentthroughtheeyes of a stranger.
Language Mañana Tomorrow Besok Similar wordshavedifferentconnotations The meaning of a word depends on the culture. Whatisbeingsaid? Whatwelearned: Languagecommunicationneedstobe done through pauses and reflection. Active listening.
Differentvalues Values are determinedbysociety Time: Culture of efficiencyvs. relaxedsociety Formality/Informality: Sociable relationship vs. formal behavior Directness: Politeness vs. honesty Whatwelearned: Not judginga person by how he reacts to our rules. Respecting values. Understanding other people’s behavior.
Conclusions • There will always be moments when you need to deal with an intercultural relationship • Be aware of otherpeople’sculturevalues. • Aspectstoconsider • Respect • Awareness • Knowledge
Thankyou! • Sources: • Pease, Adam. The Definitive Book of Body Language. New York: Bantam Books, 2009. • Samovar, Larry, Richard E. Porter, Edwin R. McDaniel. Communication between Cultures. Boston: Cengage, 2009. • Gudykunst, William and Young Yun Kim, "Communicating With Strangers: An Approach to Intercultural Communication," in Bridges Not Walls, ed. John Stewart. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1995.