Communicating Across Cultures Presentation for the Canadian Association of Law Libraries 2008 Conference Saskatoon, Saskatchewan May 27, 2008 Suying Hugh.

Communicating Across CulturesPresentation for the Canadian Association of Law Libraries 2008 Conference

Saskatoon, SaskatchewanMay 27, 2008

Suying HughWork and Study Abroad Officer

International Student CentreUniversity of Toronto

Overview of Presentation

What is culture?

Models of Culture

International Student Centre (ISC) at UofT

Challenges to communicating across cultures

Resources and tools for effective communication across cultures

What is Culture?

Culture is:

HistoricalBehaviouralLearnedCollectiveDistinctiveDefinitive Dynamic

“Culture has been succinctly defined as the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes one category of people from another.”-- Lewis, (2003) The Cultural Imperative Global Trends in the 21st Century ,Intercultural Press.

“Culture is not a universally accepted notion, and there are a great many different ways to define it. However, all but the most exotic definitions include…the sense that culture pertains to the social world; it determines how groups of people structure their lives.”-- Hofstede et al (2002) Exploring Culture ,Intercultural Press.

Understanding CultureModels of Culture

This is a cross cultural exercise done with students to allow them to see the different layers of culture and how we experience them.

Understanding Culture Models of Culture

Perception:

What do you see?

Understanding Culture Models of Culture

Suggested interpretations from the image:

A woman bribing a man

Negotiation

A violent discussion

A discussion among friends

A quarrel

A lady giving her address to a man

Cultural ModelsA way of Understanding

High Context Cultures

Process focused

Relationships built

over time

Group oriented

Hierarchy

Formality valued

Indirect communication style

Time polychronic

Low Context Cultures

Results (task) focused

Fast built relationships

Individually oriented

Equality

Informality valued

Direct communication style

Time monochronic

Model of Cultural Variation

The International Student Centre

What can be illustrated from this experience?understanding target audience adaptation and adjustment issuescultural tendencies and designing programs and projects experiences which can offer transferable situational information

Target Audience of ISC

International students 7, 537 students from over 100 countriesTop 4 countries (undergraduate): China, United States, South Korea and IndiaTop 4 countries (graduate): United States, China, India and Iran

Domestic Students Layers and interestsGlobal understanding

Cultural Implications and Programs

General design and objectives

Orientation Programs

Work and Study Abroad

Interchange/ Intercultural Programs

Experiences at ISC

What we see and perceive from a situation, grounded in our own values inform how we act and communicate.Anecdotal experience from daily encounters (the never ending question, the non communicator, etc)Culture and adaptationMentorshipExpectations and “reality”

Challenges to Communicating Across Cultures

Communication is a combination of what is said, the way in which it is said and our body language.

Challenges can be categorized as:

speaking accent

topics of conversation

slang/jargon

Challenges (cont’d)

Formal/informal language

Tone

Gestures/ Posture

Physical space and contact

Communication Style

Dress and appearance

Gender

Resources and Tools

There is no right or wrong communication style or methodUnderstanding your own perceptions and values will guide youKnowledge and Awareness are keyCommunicating across cultures is dynamicLearn to take cultural cues

Resources and Tools (Cont’d)Hofstede, Gert Jan, Pedersen, Paul B. and Geert Hofstede (2002) Exploring Culture Exercises, Stories and Synthetic Cultures Intercultural Press

Lewis, Richard D. (2003) The Cultural Imperative Global Trends in the 21st Century Intercultural Press

Lewis, Richard D. (2006) When Cultures Collide: Leading Across Cultures Nicholas Brealey Publishing Ltd.

Peterson, Brooks (2004) Cultural Intelligence A Guide to Working with people from other cultures Nicholas Brealey Publishing Ltd.

Thank You.

Contact information:

[email protected]