CROSS CULTURE

UNDERSTANDING

A. Introduction
1. Description
Materi ini mencakup materi tentang Cross
Culture Understanding yang meliputi: What is Cross
Culture Understanding?, The Role of Cross
cultural Understanding in Language Learning, and
The ways to improve cross culture understanding in
a new country
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2. Objectives
Memahami apa yang dimaksud dengan
Cross Culture Understanding

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B. What is Cross Culture Understanding?
Cross Cultural Understanding derived from three
words that cross, cultural, and understanding, of the
three words different meanings. Understanding of the
Cross is cross- culture, the culture between both
countries that lasted through the mass media or
through other means mutually influence each culture.
Culture is the “glue” that binds a group of people
together. (Douglas-Brown, 1994). Culture is an Elusive
construct Constantly that shifts over time and According
to Who is perceiving and interpreting it. (Linda
Harklau-1999). In Classic, the culture is Called
culture, the which comes from the Latin word Colere,
the process or work. Can be also interpreted as to
cultivate the land or farming. The word culture is also
sometimes translated as “culture” in Indonesian.
Understanding Inter-Personal (Interpersonal
Understanding) is the desire to understand others. It is
the ability to listen and accurately Understand the
thoughts, feelings, other people’s problems that can
not be uttered or not fully delivered. This
competency measure complexity and depth of
understanding of other people, also including cross-
cultural sensitivity. So, the definition of cross-cultural
understanding are: the basic ability of people to
recognize, interpret and correctly react to people,
incidences or situations that are open to
misunderstanding due to cultural differences. Whenever
someone goes overseas, he is like a fish out of water.
(Mason, 2000)
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C. The Role of Cross cultural Understanding in
Language Learning
Cross culture understanding plays a significant
role in communicating with people from different
countries. Language and culture are inseparable.
Therefore, when learners are learning a language, at the
same time they should learn the culture of the country
and the people of where the language is from, in order
to avoid miscommunication and misunderstanding.
Cross cultural understanding simply refers to the basic
ability of people to recognize, interpret and correctly
react to people, incidences or situations that are open
to misunderstanding due to cultural differences.
Reynold (2004: 57) if we are to communicate
successfully across cultures, we must recognize the
power of language. Think of how language can be
charged with feeling, how it can galvanize and cause
upheaval.
The guidelines to use language effectively and
sensitively to facilitate communication Reynold,
(2004:63) are as follows:
1. Be aware
Non native speaker are often unfamiliar with
idiom and confuse by the shades of meaning of
words. Pretending to understand when you don’t
is often dictated by culture’s desires to be
courteous, to seek harmony and conversation-free
relationship, and to avoid embarrassment. After
all, needing to ask a question means that they

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didn’t understand.

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2. Choose words carefully
Words are powerful: they can hurt or
support. To communicate cross-culturally, avoid
words that disrespect or belittle others. Remember
that jokes can also wound, especially the kind that
make fun of a people or their beliefs. Finally,
remember that many cultures that communicate
indirectly may find directness rude or threatening.
3. Avoid idioms, slang, jargon, acronyms.
These expressions are seldom taught at school or
in formal language courses.
4. Respect the basic rules of correct grammar and
standard syntax.
Most people who learn second languages know
their grammar.
5. Be polite and formal
Indonesian people are not as casual as other
people from different countries. Be polite. Avoid
informality.
6. Avoid jokes and humor
Be ware of sharing the latest joke. Humor,
often based on word play, puns, or shared cultural
references, is one of the most difficult things to
translate. Also, remember that laughter in many
cultures signifies embarrassment or
nervousness.
7. Listen
Listening is a very powerful communication

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tool: it involves putting aside your own self- interest
so that you can step behind another’s eyes and see
things from that

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 perspective. This is a great compliment to the
person with whom you’re communicating as well
as tangible proof of your commitment to
understanding.
8. Value Silence
Try to become more comfortable with silence.
For example, many Asian cultures appreciate
periods of silence and do not like to be hurried.

D. The Ways to Improve Cross Cultural Understanding

in a New Country
There are 10 ways to improve cultural understanding
in a new country. They are as follows:
1. Adapt to the local language: Don’t isolate yourself
from the local language and the local way of
speaking – the slang, and the style.
2. Participate in the community functions: Be a
part of the local community. The social
interactions help with understanding the local
customs, traditions, and appreciating the
differences.
3. Volunteer at a local school or library: Being a
volunteer at local school or library is not only a
noble thing to do, but it help you equally. You
learn a lot about the local lifestyle, the local
education system and it opens many doors to the
social activities.
4. Don’t be over conscious of being different: We are

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all different, one way or another. The world
would be a boring place if we were all very similar.
So don’t be self- conscious about being a
minority in a new culture.

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5. Improve communication skills: The best way to
improve local interaction is by improving your
communication skills.
6. Understand and overcome the culture shock: When
we go to a new place, we all go through this phase
of culture shock – some more than others.
7. Socialize outside your own culture: Again, avoid
self isolation by limiting your social interactions
within your own community. Go explore the other
culture; there are always so many interesting and
intriguing facts and things about the other culture
waiting to be discovered.
8. Share your own culture and customs: To improve
cross- cultural understanding, share the customs of
your own culture with the local communities and with
local circle of friends. This is the best way to bridge
the gap between two cultures – learning about the
local customers and sharing your own culture
and norms.
9. Don’t be judgmental: Everyone has their own way
of doing things, their own customs, their own
ritual. Don’t be quick to judge a culture based
on partial observation. We all do many things that
look strange to people from other culture. The idea
is to adapt, not to criticize. So, listen to your local
friends, observe their cultural habits. This will help you
in understanding their way of thinking and how they
deal with different social situations.
10.Time is a great equalizer: it takes time to adapt

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to a new place, to learn a new way of life, to
understand a new culture. Do not rush yourself to
form an opinion

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 about another culture. Take some time to know the local society, make some friends
and have some fun. With time, you will find yourself more and more at home.

E. For Discussion
Discuss with your group:
1. What do you know about Cross Culture Understanding?
2. Why should we study Cross Culture Understanding?
3. Do you have experience in relation to Cross Culture Understanding?

F. Test
Answer the following questions:
1. What is cross culture understanding?
2. Mention the role of cross culture understanding in language learning.
3. Mantion the ways in improving cross culture understanding in a new
country.

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