Tips for Better Intercultural Communication Kenji Kitao.

Tips for Better Intercultural Communication

Kenji Kitao

Getting to Know Canadians and Others Make the first move yourself.

start conversations with strangers ask questions talk about yourself and about Japa

n

Talk about classes, work, hobbies, family, leisure time activities, sports, current events, etc. What classes are you taking? What is your major? Where do you work? What are you going to do this wee

kend?

You need to be prepared to answer similar questions. major future plans student life Doshisha Kyoto Japan etc.

How to keep the conversation going listen carefully. follow up on the topic

talk about the same topic for a while• ask questions• give related information about yourself, yo

ur own experiences and opinions, etc.

don‘t skip around from one topic to another

give a little more information than you are asked for

ask an open-ended rather than closed-ended questions open-ended

what, when, how, why closed-ended

yes, no questions You should make your conversation tw

o-way.

avoid certain topics monetary matters religion politics very personal information the body, health, etc.

Introductions

self introduction name, where from, student, major,

hobbies, family, etc. introduce two friends

name, relationship, some other information

impolite not to introduce people if you are not sure, “Mary, do you k

now Jim?”

Invitations

issue an invitation what when I‘m having some people over for di

nner on Friday night. Would you like to come?

Indefinite invitation We should have lunch together so

metime. Let‘s get together sometime. Like “See you later.”

Accepting invitations express pleasure over invitation

Let‘s do that. I‘d love to. That sounds great.

Refusing invitations soften a refusal

expression of regret expression of appreciation both

give a reason show an interest in accepting anot

her time

Gifts

not necessary to bring gifts to visit people

nice gesture birthday, Christmas, wedding, baby s

hower, etc. monetary value is not very important more personal

what they like, what would suit them, etc.

don‘t belittle the gift make the reason for giving a gift cl

ear -- “Happy birthday.” say “I hope you like it.” something from Japan

explain what it is

when you receive a gift open the gift and say something ni

ce about it This is a beautiful ring. I wanted to get a pair of gloves sin

ce it is getting cold here. Show appreciation clearly, at least

say “Thank you.” response, “I‘m glad you like it.”

Compliments

I like your dress. Your shirt looks nice.

tastes, sounds, is, That‘s a nice bag.

nice, good, great, wonderful, beautiful, lovely, terrific, pretty, delicious

response “Thank you.” + something about it Don‘t reject it.

Complaints

talk directly to the person involved do not ask another person to talk t

o that person for you in business, talk to the person who

can do something about the problem

make the problem clear, but try to avoid hurting the other person‘s feelings

express the assumtion that the other person acted in good faith

try to solve the problem before it gets too big

make it clear how to solve the problem

Apologizing

If you have done something wrong, you are expected to apologize. how big is offense the relationship with the person

small offensive and close relationship “Sorry about that.” “Sorry.”

small and not close “I‘m sorry.” “I’m so sorry.”

large and not close “I‘m terribly sorry.” “I really must ap

ologize.” “Please accept my apology.”

specifying what you are appologizing for “Sorry to be late.” “I‘m sorry that I

misunderstood you.” “I really must apologize, but I lost y

our book.” offering a repair

“Can I buy you a new one?”

You should sometimes express regret over the situation, even if it was not your fault. “I‘m sorry we had a misunderstandi

ng.”

differences between Canadians and Japanese Japanese appologize even if they are n

ot wrong but to smooth out social relations

don‘t apologize if you are not responsible no one‘s fault, you are partially responsi

ble for, difficult to determine whose fault Insurance may not pay if you admit your

fault

important issues be clear about what you are apolo

gizing for apologizing means that you admit

your fault

responding to an apology if you accept it

“That‘s OK.” “No problem.” “That’s all right. These things happen.” etc.

giving feedback and requesting clarification

expressing opinions, agreeing and disagreeing

making requests and asking favors responding to requests making offers asking preferences and specifying c

hoices

giving advice and making suggestions

correcting expressing appreciations congratulating and expressing sym

pathy

Communicating with Americans: Functions in English S. Kathleen Kitao and Kenji Kitao

End