Cultural Awareness Strategy

About this course

   Learn about the culture beforehand a little knowledge can go a long way. If you have time before embarking on a trip or meeting with someone from another culture try to take time to learn the basic do and do not of that culture. You can information on this from internet sources. Different cultures will speak different volumes be more or less direct in showing emotion may or may not expect to engage in small talk and exhibit other dissimilarities in communication. When communicating with people from other cultures be prepared to encounter such differences including ones that you were not aware of. When communicating with a different culture there may be unwritten rules about social hierarchy that you are not used to. For instance you may come from a culture where men and women are expected to communicate equally with each other but may have to interact with someone from a culture where men may do more talking in mixed company. Similarly, you may be communicating with someone who expects that a younger person should let an older person do most of the talking while you expect people across age groups to communicate equally.   Be upfront about difficulties in communication if you could not understand someone or think that he or she did not understand you say something about it. avoid being rude or offensive but patiently explain the problem. It's usually better to be upfront than to let a problem in communication go undressed since there may otherwise be bigger problems later. The ability to identify and understand your own cultural background, beliefs and biases and how the shape your actions and perceptions is very important.

Course objectives

• prepare for communication with individuals from different cultural backgrounds
• encourage openness in overcoming communication barriers
• improve skills in culturally sensitive interactions