Intercultural Competence
. Thanks to the development of technology, the world is now a small place. For we can travel whenever we want and visit wherever we wish. Because travelling is easier now, being educated in another country has become a trend. Today, a student can get educated in any country he or she wants, with some exceptions like the countries where there is still war. Culture shock and such effects may happen to these students. Intercultural competence has a huge key role in getting over culture shock.
‘’Because if we are citizens in the modern world, we will most likely visit at least two countries in our lives. Intercultural competence is what is going to help us because it is the behaviour that is appropriate in intercultural areas’’ (Deardorff, 2006, p.4). Not only students but also travellers or immigrants can face the same troubles. There has been many studies on intercultural competence, and there should be more.
There are many studies on intercultural competence such as Bennett’s Intercultural Competence: A Way to Live In Common With Others. She stated,‘’It is a set of cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills and characteristics that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural context ‘’ (Bennett, 2011, p.3). In her perspective, Intercultural Competence is necessary to handle domestic and global differences. However, ‘’ Cultural knowledge does not necessarily lead to competence.’’ she adds (Bennett, 2011, p.5).
In this situation, everyone should agree with Mrs.Bennett, because just knowing someone’s culture does not mean you are going to get what they feel or want to say. According to her (2011), by interrupting our presumptions and value judgments, working on cultural modesty, trying to have multiple point of views, asking questions that are culturally appropriate, and increasing our tolerance of uncertainty, we can develop our intercultural curiosity, which has a key role on developing intercultural competence.
Intercultural competence not only helps you deal with other cultures but also helps you analyse your own culture, because differences are what make something unique. There may be many hand signs that are used in your country and are also offensive in other countries. Tidwell (2006), whose study is fully based on the hand gestures and their meanings in different cultures, says that a common example of this is the use of hand to point out ''come here please'‘. This gesture is used to beckon dogs in some cultures and is offensive Pointing at something is also thought to be rude in cultures like such as Asian culture, Asians usually use their whole hand to idicate something
For example, if a bosnian travels to Serbia,he or she may face difficulties. The same goes for someone who visits Bosnia. Both regions had fight in the past due to some religious, economical and authoritical problems. There are still traces of the past History is another thing that can be faced when travelling abroad. Racism, unfortunately, is one of the bitter realities of life. It is a known fact that when the time is gone, it is really gone. However, what the ancestors left in this world still has importance.
‘’ Racism rears its ugly head in many forms across university campuses throughout Canada every year’’ he tells in his article (Crosby, 2009, p.3). To deal with both cultural and historical matters, Intercultural Competence should be developed even more. For example, in his study about the racism in Canadian campuses, Crosby gives voice to the fact that Intercultural Competence is so important.
In accordance with his article, the only way to spread anti-racism is Intercultural Cross Competence. In many countries, including Canada about which Crosby wrote an article, there is racism. And Crosby suggests that Intercultural Competence should be taught more at schools in early grades
References Deardorff, D.K.B, (2004). The Identification and Assessment of Intercultural Competence as a Student Outcome of Internationalization at Institutions of Higher Education in the United States. Raleigh, North Carolina : North Carolina State University Bennett, M.J. (2011). Developing Intercultural Competence : FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FACULTY AND STAFF. Portland, Oregon Tidwell, C., (2006). Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication. Berrien Springs, Michigan: Andrews University Crosby, A.A. (2009). Linking the Intercultural and Anti Racism Components in Internationalization at Home: THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SUPPORT PROGRAM AT THE QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL CENTRE,CANADA. Canada: Queen’s University International Centre
Yagmur Kucukbekir KTU DELL IDE 1022 Submitted to: Asst. Prof. Dr. Elif Demirel