intercultural communication reflection essay

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• Zhang, W & Wang, Z 2007, ‘Confucian educational thought and its influence on modern social education’, Journal of Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 59-62.

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Intercultural Communication Reflective Essay

Introduction.

The last semester as a student at Coventry University marked a transformation of intercultural communication in my academic life. A particular instance that I intend to reflect on regards my contribution to a collaborative effort where effective Communication within a diverse cultural setting was necessary. The reflective essay for this intercultural experience shall be structured through applying the Gibbs reflective model.

Description

There is one intercultural communication experience that remains very notable, which occurred in a group project for my international business course. This involved analyzing a case study of a global business and documenting the results in a detailed report. Initially, our group, which had members from different cultures, could not appreciate one another’s communication styles, work habits, or expectations. The group’s composition was diverse, with people from countries like Asia, Europe, and Africa presenting distinct viewpoints. According to the Tuckman model of team development, these differences are bound to happen, especially during the second stage of team development, the storming stage (Jones, 2020). The reason is that during the first stage of development, team members start by familiarizing themselves with each other by sharing their personal expectations, weaknesses, and strengths and setting preliminary expectations and boundaries. However, during the storming stage, which is the second stage, these expectations and boundaries get challenged, creating conflict in the group due to diverse opinions among each other (Jones, 2020). For example, some team members adhered to time punctuality while others did not see it as a big deal, which led to conflict due to the different perspectives. However, the conflict ended amicably through our leader, who was good at solving conflicts by applying methods such as compromising, advocating, and collaborating (Green & Johnston, 2019).

Initially, I was a curious combination of fear and anxiety. The group was rich with diversity, which offered a refreshing chance to learn about other cultural ideas. However, there was always uncertainty about where there would be a breakdown in Communication. Zajac et al. (2021) state that it is key for team members to learn about each other’s strengths and weaknesses to avoid misunderstanding and communication. Positive feelings appeared towards the end as the group surpassed its primary challenges of creating a cooperative atmosphere built on respect. According to Richard Boyatzis (2023), when the group is in its last stages of development, individuals have increased levels of emotional intelligence, observing cultural sensitivity, embracing diverse ideas, and understanding each individual’s strengths and weaknesses, hence achieving an efficient team collaboration among members.

From the onset, I realized that our project at Coventry University had intercultural communication issues, which opened my eyes to the multidimensional nature of Communication between different cultures. I discovered intricate differences that cut across Communication, leadership, and time notions. Such differences highlighted the cultural nuances influencing effective Communication (Ladha et al., 2018). Each time our group formed a meeting between members from British and Chinese cultures, the diversity of culture was revealed in different forms, for example, the assertive directness exhibited by some members. This taught me that one has to learn cultural differences not only through linguistic competence. I realized that intercultural Communication is not just about language but also about developing an empathic understanding of other cultures, how their languages work, and their modes of speaking and interacting. Such realization has proved vital to me as I work towards understanding the diverse Communication within the global society.

In relation to intercultural Communication within my group, I realized that my communication skills developed positively. Through collaborating, we have consciously dealt with the challenges and complications in our communication styles that stem from varied cultural backgrounds. We achieved this through open communication and discussions. As a result, we were able to navigate through the labyrinth of cultural divisions and diversities. Despite engaging in such discussions, I noticed a significant change in my communication style. While trying to be very transparent, I seamlessly adapted to different perspectives across cultural boundaries and how to view issues and situations from different perspectives. This was not only limited to speaking but also my understanding of nonverbal Communication, which is very important for some cultures. Therefore, I intentionally altered my communication pattern by stressing using non-verbal cues to close the gaps and improve mutual understanding. This awareness led me to a step towards becoming a better and more sensitive cultural communicator in diverse settings.

In conclusion, participating in an international group project in a foreign country with a foreign language for Communication, as I experienced during my studies at Coventry University, remains the most vivid experience I have taken away from it. It was a pragmatic insight into cultural sensitivity and individual and team development. The feeling resulting from a successful partnership demonstrated the importance of intercultural communicative competence, including professionalism, in an academic setting. I intend to apply the insights I acquired from this experience in pursuit of life in my profession and social settings.

Action plan

The awareness that differences exist in cultural landscapes is a wake-up call for me to derive an action plan that will have a long-lasting impact on my mastery of cultural Communication. I intend to participate in various multicultural events and attend seminars on intercultural communication theories and practices. Maxim & Chasovchi (2021) emphasize that promoting cultural diversity enhances a culture of mutual respect and understanding of the cultural landscapes, making it easy to interactions and communicate with people of different countries and cultures. Additionally, I shall participate in co-cultural projects such as school or club programs. Participating in these initiatives will help me sharpen my capacity to be sensitive to cultural differences and to adapt. Furthermore, consistent conversations with colleagues of different ethnicities will be a fruitful platform for continuous learning and sharing cultures. This collaborative exercise and presentation will strengthen my intercultural communications as I prepare for an international and academic life. As a result, I can interact with people regardless of cultural differences and form meaningful and valuable relationships.

Boyatzis, R. E. (2023). Leadership development from a complexity perspective.  Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research ,  60 (4), 298–313. https://doi.org/10.1037/1065-9293.60.4.298

Green, J., & Johnston, S. (2019).  A Practical Approach to Conflict Management for Program Directors . Home Page. https://doi.org/10.4300%2FJGME-D-14-00175.1

Jones, Dr. A. (2020, February 21).  The Tuckman’s model implementation, effect, and Analysis & the new development of the Jones LSI model on a small group . SSRN. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3525281

Ladha, T., Zubairi, M., Hunter, A., & Audcent, T. (2018).  Cross-cultural Communication: Tools for working with families and children . Home Page. https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fpch%2Fpxx126

Maxim, C., & Chasovchi, C. (2021).  Cultural landscape changes in the built environment at World Heritage Sites: Lessons from Bukovina, Romania . Redirecting. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2021.100583

Zajac, S., Woods, A., Tannenbaum, S., Salas, E., & Holladay, C. L. (2021). Overcoming challenges to teamwork in Healthcare: A Team Effectiveness Framework and evidence-based guidance.  Frontiers in Communication ,  6 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.606445

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An Essay about Intercultural Sensitivity and Competence in Higher Education

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Overcoming essentialism students’ reflections on learning intercultural communication online.

1. Introduction

2. materials and methods, 2.1. setting, 2.2. pedagogical design, 2.3. study design, 2.4. analysis, 3. results and discussion.

“Also, I was worried when teachers announced the instructions for the group work because I didn’t know how to organize my group. In addition, I was a little stressed to work with people that I didn’t know because each of us had it’s work method. So, I feared that our methods were not compatible and therefore our work was inefficient”. (Lucie, uB)

“…with time I realized that it’s possible to work efficiently even if we don’t have the same work method. I also have realized that it was a challenge at the same time enriching and educational especially for our future professional experiences”. (Lucie, uB)

“During this first session, I learnt and noticed that I was more excited about the course than I could have thought before. I had some preconceptions about how I would react facing an entire class of complete strangers, moreover in a zoom interview: because of COVID19 my shyness increased and I feel like talking to someone I don’t know behind a screen is really hard to me”. (Charlotte, uB)

“I have felt very tired after our meetings and the communication has been a bit challenging for me. I often found myself thinking how I should response or interrupt one, when something is not what I have thoughts to be or how should I disagree with other without being rude […] Trying to cooperate with others and being polite feels challenging when I’m not sure how other will comprehend me or my actions. I’m sure that communicating via zoom adds even more to this challenge”. (Lenni, JYU)

“In sum, mixing languages makes me realize that I have a strength in sociolinguistic attention, sometimes acting as a mediator between French (2 partners) and Italian (1 partner)”. (Xavier, JYU)

“What I particularly appreciated in this experience is that I improved my intercultural communication skills. […] I was also able to realize that I had a certain ease in expressing myself with foreigners, and if I didn’t have the vocabulary to say what I wanted, I always found a way to make myself understood. I had never necessarily noticed these skills before, but through this course and this experience, I was able to develop them even more”. (Zoé, uB)

3.1. Different Approaches to IC and Interculturality

“I would like to talk about the essentialist view even if I agree with the two definition of culture but I think I will be able to talk more about the first definition. According to Hofstede, within the essentialist national culture, there is also a complex of sub-cultures. In my opinion this is true, we can talk about France. In France we have different regions with different sub-cultures […] All these subcultures come together to form the French culture […]”. (Louise, uB)

“Many writers of intercultural communication end up using the term ‘culture’ as a synonym of ‘nation’ or ‘ethnicity’. Personally, due to this article now I strongly believe that culture has a ‘flexible’ definition, when individuals interact to each other and societies are made by similarities and differences because of the sense of belonging. However, a great example when culture often is considered as nation or ethnicity is the Japanese culture […] the ones who try to follows other ways of behavior are rejected and margined, and by the end lead to mental illnesses which conveys to deteriorate the members of the culture”. (Xavier, JYU)

“I found particularly interesting the difference between the essentialist and non-essentialist concepts when it comes to talk about culture. Personally, I agree more with the non-essentialist one. I believe that culture depends on the person we’re considering as well as the context, the place, the moment, etc. […] Two years ago, I had a Finish roommate so I could learn a little bit more about not only Finish culture in general but her own Culture”. (Denise, uB)

“According to Hofstede, Japan and Thailand are both in the middle [of the dimension of power distance]. Among East Asian countries, Japan has less distance, and it is because less affected by Confucianism. However, […] based on my experience, Japan should locate in more strong power distance country”. (Saki, JYU)

“Let me give you one example where the concept of nation has nothing to do with culture: I am myself part of the LGBTQIA+ community and it is a culture of its own. It is based on open-mindedness and the struggle against inequalities, homophobia, misogyny and transphobia. […] The influence of this community is borderless and individuals from all around the world can be part of it […]”. (Baptiste, uB)

“In order to share a personal example on this topic, I would like to talk about the non-essentialist view which corresponds to many experiences I have had [from a video gaming event]. […] And this little personal idea proved to be more than true during this convention because indeed I could meet many different people without barriers of social classes, language (English being the main one), or cultures”. (Yanis, uB)

“I have noticed that the essentialist view is more often used when the discussion is about someone’s behavior that is seen as negative thing. In these situations, all the other possible factors that might influence a demeanor of someone is disregarded, and the culture is seen as only explanation. […] I myself has also viewed a foreigners behavior from this essentialist view. The important lesson here is for everyone recognize this kind of thinking in themselves, and try to examine things for another point of view”. (Risto, JYU)

3.2. Juggling between Different Approaches

“Personally, I think the Hofstede “6D model of national culture” is completely obsolete and never have been relevant. To be completely honest, I’m kind of angry and frustrated to study this theory as something still important in the intercultural study when It’s actually impertinent. Fist of all, it’s outdated, the society evolved, but secondly, this study is the point of view of a white cisgender man, based on the testimony of other white ci-gender men, which is definitely not representative of the world, nor society, and is fully limited on intercultural study”. (Elise, uB)

In many learning logs, juxtapositions of essentialist and non-essentialist approaches could be found, possibly following the discussion of articles that the students had been asked to read (e.g., [ 31 ]] Analysis revealed several learning logs that stated how students have chosen the non-essentialist perspective, or that they believe something to be more appropriate or accurate in terms of theorizing IC. As one student from uB wrote, “If I had to choose a point of view, I will choose the non-essentialist approach” (Marie). Another student from uB wrote, “[…] I also strongly believe that individuals can be part of several cultures, including some that know no physical boundaries”. (Baptiste)

“However, it is true that one can see a cultural difference from one country to another, but in the same country one can find people coming from different cultures and find a great diversity among the people of this country. […] There isn’t ONE definition to hold and there isn’t one way to define culture”. (Zoé, uB)

4. Conclusions

5. limitations and future directions, author contributions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest, appendix a. examples of the online lesson outlines (teachers’ plans), example 1: session 3. theme: comparative approaches to ic.

• Methodology: white-collar workers at IBM are not a representative group.
• The research is now very dated.
• The dimensions appear quite reductive and tend to reinforce stereotypes.
• One score for very different things, some of which appear to cancel each other out—how can this be interpreted?
• Some strange geographical/“cultural” divisions.
• Macro-level indicators with no room for intra-group diversity—cannot be applied to individuals or in given contexts (though this is what the website seems to encourage).
• On the micro level, individuals adapt to one another, deviate from societal norms, draw on various cultures (large and small) to structure their behavior, depending on the situation.

Example 2: Session 5. Theme: Multilingual and Intercultural Communication/Language and Identity

Exercise continues: Write 5 sentence that all start with “I am” in another language. Discuss: Did you write same/different things? Why? How do you describe yourself in different languages, and why this is? Do you feel different in different languages?

Appendix B. Instructions and Questions for the Logbooks

• Week 1 (beginning with first class): What did you observe/feel/learn about intercultural communication from this first session? What are your impressions and anticipations (worries, doubts, expectations) about the course?
• Week 2: Discuss one point chosen from the set reading texts and share an example that illustrates this from your own experience.
• Week 3: Using the Hofstede “6D model of national culture,” look up the cultural values of 2 countries you are familiar with. To what degree do these seem plausible (or not) based on the experiences you have?
• Week 4: What has your experience through the group assignment taught you about your own intercultural communication competence?
• Week 5: How do you feel that language skills affected your communication during this course, and particularly in your group work? How do you feel about using/mixing different languages?
• Week 6: Which videos did you find particularly interesting/surprising/well done and why?
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Kokkonen, L.; Jager, R.; Frame, A.; Raappana, M. Overcoming Essentialism? Students’ Reflections on Learning Intercultural Communication Online. Educ. Sci. 2022 , 12 , 579. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12090579

Kokkonen L, Jager R, Frame A, Raappana M. Overcoming Essentialism? Students’ Reflections on Learning Intercultural Communication Online. Education Sciences . 2022; 12(9):579. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12090579

Kokkonen, Lotta, Romée Jager, Alexander Frame, and Mitra Raappana. 2022. "Overcoming Essentialism? Students’ Reflections on Learning Intercultural Communication Online" Education Sciences 12, no. 9: 579. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12090579

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Race and Ethnicity — Intercultural Communication

Essays on Intercultural Communication

This timeless character is a popular subject for essays due to the deep and complex nature of her tragic hero status. Whether you're looking to write an argumentative, cause and effect, opinion, or informative essay, there are plenty of topics to choose from that will allow you to explore the various facets of Antigone's tragic hero status.

When choosing a topic for your Antigone Tragic Hero essay, consider what aspect of her character you find most intriguing. Are you drawn to her unwavering loyalty to her family, or do you find her defiance of authority to be the most compelling? Once you've identified your area of interest, you can start brainstorming potential topics that will allow you to delve deeper into that particular aspect of Antigone's character.

For an argumentative essay, you might explore topics such as " Is Antigone's decision to defy King Creon justified? " or " Is Antigone's tragic fate predetermined by her family's curse? " For a cause and effect essay, consider topics like " The consequences of Antigone's rebellion against authority " or " The impact of Antigone's actions on her family and the kingdom of Thebes. " If you prefer an opinion essay, you could explore topics such as " Why Antigone is the ultimate tragic hero " or " The significance of Antigone's legacy in modern society. " And for an informative essay, topics like " The historical context of Antigone's story " or " The evolution of Antigone's portrayal in literature and media " could provide ample material for exploration.

To give you a better idea of how to approach your Antigone Tragic Hero essay, let's take a look at a few examples. For instance, a thesis statement for an essay on Antigone as a tragic hero could be " Antigone's unwavering loyalty to her family and defiance of authority makes her a classic tragic hero. " When it comes to the , you could start with a captivating hook that draws the reader in, such as " In the ancient city of Thebes, a young woman's unwavering determination and defiance of authority would ultimately lead to her tragic downfall. " And for the , you could wrap up your essay with a thought-provoking statement that leaves a lasting impression, such as " Antigone's tragic fate serves as a timeless reminder of the consequences of challenging societal norms and the enduring power of loyalty and sacrifice. "

With these examples and topics in mind, you're well on your way to crafting a compelling Antigone Tragic Hero essay that will captivate your readers and showcase your understanding of this iconic character.

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Communication Challenges in Intercultural Interactions Essay

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Introduction

Communication barriers in intercultural interactions, high anxiety.

In the present age, young people have difficulties socializing with people from other cultures who they meet at school and the workplace because of communication obstacles. If people can acknowledge and appreciate other communities, they can be able to associate well with people from diverse cultures. People need to overcome communication barriers in intercultural interactions so that they can improve their relationships. In addition, about fifty percent of the American population will be people of color due to immigration by the year 2050. Therefore, there is a great need to learn the lifestyles of different communities so that the challenges of communication barriers are solved.

People have different views concerning intercultural communication. Some individuals believe that more interaction between communities of diverse nations would lead to a better understanding between the different cultures. Despite this, there are numerous challenges that exist in intercultural communication (Dupraw & Axner, n.d.). Dupraw and Axner (n.d.) believe that interaction with other people does not necessarily depict communication. Ingram (n.d.) observes that communication barriers across communities have prevailed because people are not informed that they exist in the first place. This essay aims to show that communication in intercultural interactions is hindered by the communication style, body language, stereotypes, the tendency to evaluate, high anxiety, and differences in ways of completing tasks.

Communication style

Language is a major communication barrier. Barna (n.d.) asserts that people experience challenges with terminologies, grammar, phrases, slang, and the accent in a foreign language. The worst-case scenario is when a person holds on or borrows the meaning of a word in a different community without considering its linguistic context. It may cause a misunderstanding in the whole statement, thereby inciting a different reaction compared to the expected reaction.

Body language

Body language is also very influential in any communication process. Knowing the language of a foreign nation is not enough to communicate effectively (Dupraw & Axner, n.d.). Failing to understand the common nonverbal signs, such as gestures and the tone of voice is a major communication obstacle. It is also more challenging to understand nonverbal symbols that are further from consciousness, such as the management of time, spacial relationships, and acceptable gestures of formality. To solve this, visitors in a foreign country need to know about the nonverbal signs associated with the culture they are interacting. They also need to know what each sign is attributed to because they may be interpreted differently. Thus, the wrong interpretation can lead to miscommunication.

Stereotypes

Understanding stereotypes can also make intercultural communication easier. Stereotypes are oversimplified concepts that give the society a basis from which to understand the surroundings (Barna, n.d.). Stereotypes are obstacles in communication because they hinder objective viewing of a cause. Unfortunately, they are challenges that cannot be solved through telling facts. For example, people with an African descent are associated with fried foods and loud music. Such stereotypes help people from other communities understand how to deal with people of the African descent.

The tendency to evaluate

Another obstacle to communication is the tendency to misjudge the arguments and deeds of others, instead of trying to understand their opinions and feelings. Judging one’s actions as good prohibits the unbiased attention required to understand the perception and behavior patterns of other people (Dupraw & Axner, n.d.). Other behaviors that do not conform to the personal behavior cultured will then be perceived as wrong. Communication is, thus, disrupted severely when feelings and emotions are implicated in a situation where much of listening and empathizing is required.

Anxiety caused by the new environment and the new culture can build up communication barriers in intercultural communication. The aspect of high anxiety is common with Outlanders because of the uncertainty of the new environment (Barna, n.d.). Moreover, cultural differences between nations cause more anxiety because individuals do not know how they should respond to other cultures or how people in the host country will respond to their lifestyle. People are also anxious when communicating with foreigners because they cannot sustain the normal flow of speech. The citizen of the host country is also tensed by the foreigner’s scrutiny and, probably, negative responses. The foreigner’s confidence is destroyed when he starts withdrawing from others and showing hostility. These behaviors have a negative impact on effective communication.

Ways of completing tasks

The different ways of completing tasks can ignite arguments in intercultural communications. Different cultures use varying methods in completing tasks because of the differences in resources, opinions on the benefits associated with the task, and the significance of teamwork when accomplishing a specific task (Dupraw & Axner, n.d.). For example, Asians may first work on strengthening the team and then completing the task later, while the Americans may opt to accomplish the task first and then build relationships later. Such differences can lead to poor communication if they are not understood and appreciated.

Personal experience

I have experienced a communication breakdown with a Chinese student who did not understand English. When he spoke, it was very difficult to understand what he meant because his pronunciation of most words was incorrect. This led to a misinterpretation of the whole conversation. He was irritated because he did not get the response he needed. He was forced to write down what he meant to say to solve his challenge in the language.

Various obstacles can cut off communication in a multicultural setting. These obstacles can be nonverbal or verbal signs. Communication obstacles include communication style, body language, high anxiety, stereotype, tendency to evaluate, ways of completing tasks, and nonverbal signs such as gestures, posture, and management of time. Therefore, people need to understand the culture and communication process of each culture in order to overcome the communication breakdown in a cultural setting.

Barna, L. (n.d). Intercultural communication stumbling blocks. Portland, OR: Portland University. Web.

Dupraw, M., & Axner, M. (n.d.). Working on common cross-cultural challenge. New York, NY: AMPU. Web.

Ingram, P. (n.d.). An overview of diversity awareness. State College, PA: Penn State University. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2020, June 7). Communication Challenges in Intercultural Interactions. https://ivypanda.com/essays/communication-challenges-in-intercultural-interactions/

"Communication Challenges in Intercultural Interactions." IvyPanda , 7 June 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/communication-challenges-in-intercultural-interactions/.

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IvyPanda . 2020. "Communication Challenges in Intercultural Interactions." June 7, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/communication-challenges-in-intercultural-interactions/.

1. IvyPanda . "Communication Challenges in Intercultural Interactions." June 7, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/communication-challenges-in-intercultural-interactions/.

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