Intercultural Communication Lycée international Nelson Mandela, Nantes May 24, 2016

Intercultural Communication Communication & Language Culture You already have experience and skills Objective: help improve your skills through explanation and examples

Communication Sending & receiving information, feelings, etc.

Communication Verbal communication (20%): What people say Non-verbal communication (80%): How people behave

Problems in Communication & Language Difference between what people say & what people mean Same word can mean different things in different cultures Examples: bread, bus, going out to eat or drink, watching sport

Culture Country composed of individuals Multiple cultures inside country (region, immigrants): majority/minority groups Culture of Origin/Adopted Culture Common characteristics & majority traits Relative to other cultures (comparative)

Different Cultures Country/Region Students Business People Doctors Sports Age Personal Interests

Levels of Culture Culture is like an iceberg. Much of it is hidden from sight even to its members

Levels of Culture Visible Everyday Life Behavior & Attitudes Invisible Values & Beliefs

Everyday Life (Visible Culture) Dress (utility and design: jeans) Food (what, when& how people eat: eating by necessity/for pleasure ) Standing in line (waiting for the bus/metro) Cinema (action & personal)

Behavior & Attitudes (Visible Culture) Time (one step at a time/several things at the same time) Formality (much/little)

Values & Beliefs (Invisible Culture) People’s beliefs (religion/ethics) Example: Anglo-Saxon work ethic People’s priorities Example: family

Why Is Mastering Intercultural Communication Important Personal enrichment Meeting, understanding & communicating with people from other countries (home, school, elsewhere) Travel (exchange programs): understanding differences in everyday life home & abroad

Why Is It Important When You Work Global world Selling to people from other countries Negotiation: international relations Working with people from other countries/cultures

Levels of Adaptation Perception : British are reserved, Italians speak with their hands, Chinese find French « romantic », US think Chinese out to take over the world

Levels of Adaptation 1. Our Way Is Only Way (Ethnocentrism): Food, Anglo-Saxons & other languages No other way is good No acceptance of comment/criticism 2. Maybe, there may be a reason for comment/criticism

Levels of Adaptation 3. Our way may not be the not only way There are differences but also similarities between our two cultures 4.We have good & bad things/they have good & bad things 5. Working together with Cultural Intelligence

Cultural Intelligence Going beyond perceptions/stereotypes, ethnocentrism to recognise, be open to, respect & take into account (not necessarily accept) behavioral differences between one culture and another, then adapt to them. We think our way but they think differently. There is not only one way of doing things but several ways of doing things. One culture is not better than another, only different.

Cultural Intelligence Natural or Learnt (listen, look, be informed,experience).

Examples of Differences in Behavior Centralisation/Decentralisation: Religion(Catholic/Protestant) Education (teaching & learning to learn) Formalism (vous/tu, names, greetings) Centralised/federal systems of government

Examples of Differences in Behaviour Results/People: Live to work: performance, competition (tests), material success (objects), money (questions concerning salary) Work to live: job content vs. money, compromise between job & private life (Scandinavian countries, 35 hour week)

Examples of Differences in Behaviour Group/Individual: Chinese names, notion of family (diaspora, company) Marriage: contract & family Work: individuals & companies, mobility, notion of employment Liberté, égalité, fraternité (transfer of wealth, social security)

Examples of Differences in Behaviour Time: Doing one thing/several things at a time Short/long-term Decision-making (trial & error/look at everything – Descartes)

Examples of Differences in Behaviour Implicit/Explicit: What is said/not said

Examples of Differences in Behaviour Showing & not showing emotion Avoiding conflict

How Can You Adapt Know your culture & that of others Compare your behavior and the behavior of others Checklists: information, communication & behavior

Information People Government & Institions Historical Events Geography (regions, cities, etc) Education System Time Difference/Holidays

Written & Verbal Communication Written & verbal communication: Who (who do you expect to solve your question/problem) When (appointments, informally) Channels (face-to-face, , telephone)

Verbal Communication Which words do you use and on what occasions (careful with your use of English on different occasions) Search for perfection & ability to communicate( words not always phrases)

Non-Verbal Communication Eye Contact Facial Expressions Gestures /Touching Space Silence

Social Behavior Social Invitations (who do you invite & when) Meals (content, length, conversation) Gift-giving (what do you offer, how do you accept) Discussions (what do you talk about)

Sources Experience: formal & informal sources Personal contacts, reading (media/literature of country concerned ), cinema, travel, popular culture, history Go to national source(news media, internet) but not necessarily in language of country concerned Verification of information

Conclusion Acquire Knowledge & Experience Listen & Look Adapt