Introduction
Joseph Campbell once said, “The best things cannot be told; the second best are misunderstood. After that comes civilized conversation; after that, mass indoctrination; after that, intercultural exchange” (Fishbein, 2019). As we develop and progress in the intercultural world and the village community made possible by the internet and social media, people become self-reflective of habits of mind and heart as expressed daily.
People develop methods in which change, ambiguity, and unfamiliarity can be encountered most simply and creatively. My ability has relied heavily on active listening throughout my course journey in developing intercultural intellect. At the same time, I have struggled with handling difficult conversations and cultural awareness. Intercultural communication is a source of collective strength, and the primary goal is to improve human communication relations.
Strengths and Weaknesses
At the beginning of the class, I was very good at active listening, which was one area that I focused on as a student. Good communication in a cross-cultural environment requires that one possess and practice active listening and self-awareness. This has always demanded that I avoid counterarguments and restate the conversation with constructive questions. Cross-cultural communication must consider various elements, including heroes, values, symbols, and rituals (Jandt, 2020).
According to Jandt (2020), culture members share behavioral norms, symbols, and identities that must be respected and acknowledged by other people and themselves. Through these daily encounters, I have sometimes and often failed to account for the diverse cultural differences. Similarly, I have also struggled with maintaining difficult conversations. I have wanted to improve on those two skills.
Goals Set
One of the goals I have set is to improve my awareness by incorporating cultural values in the cross-cultural conversations I engage in. There are diverse ways in which cultures define communication. Jandt (2020) demonstrates this by using traditions from Western cultures, such as Singapore, China, North Korea, South Korea, and other Chinese communities.
Cultural awareness demands duty, virtue, patriotism, selflessness, respect for hierarchy, hard work, and commitment to societal and familial beliefs and Confucianism (Heggernes, 2021). This goal is essential as it plays a critical role in communication. Being culturally aware enables one to build strong communication relationships, and respect promotes school and workplace leadership. Being culturally unaware can lead to stereotyping, racism, ethnocentrism, and prejudice.
Another goal is to improve my attention to maintaining difficult conversations with my peers at school and in other communication environments. These conversations are organized and planned to discuss negative experiences and share painful areas, which helps me gain diverse perspectives and build mutual respect and understanding (Steinfatt & Millette, 2019). Topics concerning someone’s identity, feelings, and awkward situations are challenging to handle.
Managing difficult conversations is essential as it helps with handling several barriers to communication, including anxiety. As an inquisitive person, a recurrent concern I experience is the potential for my inquiries to be perceived as inept or poorly timed. This goal is essential for several reasons. Handling difficult conversations shows a vital leadership trait, helps accept diverse perspectives, and acknowledges conversations as part of learning.
Steps of Meeting the Set Goals
The initial step in being culturally aware is learning by asking open-ended questions regarding someone’s culture. The next step is to avoid stereotyping and other forms of prejudice, which can negate the communication bridge. In such conversations, I have always ensured that I pay attention to non-verbal cues and think beyond ethnicity and race. I have outlined five steps to help me handle difficult conversations.
In situations with advanced notice about what should be discussed, I have always gathered information on the topic as the first step of preparation. Gathering information has been combined with several measures, including communicating assertively, using appropriate non-verbal and verbal cues, staying focused and calm, and practicing active listening.
Progress of the Set Goals
A significant percentage of my goal has been met, if not for a few inconveniences. I can effectively handle difficult conversations without trying to win or dispute another person’s perspective. Most of the problem lies in integrating cultural awareness into daily cross-cultural discussions. Culture is so diverse that it is challenging to master, even at the primary level. Some norms are considered respectful in one culture and entirely disrespectful in others; in some cultures, little to no attention is given to them and considered normal.
Different cultures have different ways and directions in which communication should flow. Similarly, some superstitions and words must be carefully considered: not all are uniform across cultures. This can also be explained by situational scenarios where people assume similarities instead of differences (Jandt, 2020). Individual cultures are unique and different to a greater extent.
Conclusion
The course has provided me with a memorable and exciting journey. I have learned and mastered new skills beyond my knowledge of cross-cultural communication, relationships, and other human relations, and how they are connected to each individual’s identity and various cultures and subcultures across the globe. The course will help me identify differences, including prejudices, stereotyping, racism, and ethnocentrism.
One specific example where the system will help me in the future is the workplace and job market. Intercultural communication will provide essential information regarding how to handle diverse ethnicities in the workplace team and how to be inclusive. Secondly, with the growth of the internet and social media as powerful means of daily conversations and platforms for holding discussions, this course will be helpful in safe communication relationships.
References
Fishbein, E. (2019). Re-read this quote ten times (or more). Medium. Web.
Heggernes, S. L. (2021). A critical review of the role of texts in fostering intercultural communicative competence in the English Language classroom. Educational Research Review, 33, 100390. Web.
Jandt, F. E. (2020). An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global community (10th ed.). Sage Publications.
Steinfatt, T. M., & Millette, D. M. (2019). Intercultural communication. In An integrated approach to communication theory and research (pp. 307-320). Routledge. Web.