PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION LESSON 3 Communication in Multicultural Contexts

Class publication date: October 11, 2021

General Note:
Good day FUTURE TEACHER!
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module) or the topic indicated on the upper part of your yellow paper.
Read all instructions on this module carefully, complete all tasks given, and submit your work a week after receiving the
module.

Thank you!

OBJECTIVES:
at the end of the lesson you should be able to
 determine situations which display effective communication in multicultural context
 discuss culturally appropriate terms expressions and images
 write about various and intercultural communication modes and issues
 increase cultural and intercultural awareness and sensitivity in communication of ideas

TASK 1 LET'S FIND OUT

Directions: Watch the video “Italian man who went to Malta” and answer the following questions below do this on your yellow
paper.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou2vqAwNEW8
1. What are examples of cultural blunders?
2. What did one speaker say that was not understood by the person they were speaking with?
3. What was the other speakers understanding of watershed?
4. What do you think are the causes of these blunders?
5. How do you think blunders affect communication?
6. What do you think should have been done by each speaker to avoid miscommunication?

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
According to science, each person is genetically unique. Except for identical twins, each person has a unique genetic
composition. This uniqueness becomes even more heightened because of individual experiences. Humans are formed by forces
other than genetics. Family background, religious affiliations, educational achievement, social cultural forces, economic
conditions, emotional states, and other factors shape human identities. Because of this, no two people can ever be exactly the
same.

The situation- the diversity of people and cultures- impacts communication. People interacting with those coming from
unfamiliar cultures may have difficulties in communication. Most people time to conclude that miscommunication result from
speaker’s lack of proficiency in a language. What is not realized is the fact that even with excellent language skills people may
still experience miscommunication.

How then do we approach intercultural communication?

With emergence of a global society, the academic and professional environments have become multicultural. That means
you co-exist with people from diverse or different cultural backgrounds, beliefs, religion, gender, nationalities and ethnicity.

Your verbal communication is always accompanied by nonverbal cues such as gestures, facial expressions, and other body
movements that add to what you're saying in different ways. For example, it is very normal for Americans to shake hands as a
form of greeting but not for the Japanese a bow and they greet each other. Another is “nodding” to mean “yes” in some
nationalities like Indians and Latin Americans but in countries like Syria turkey and Greece nodding means “no”. Indeed, when
you communicate in a multicultural context, it is essential for you to learn, acknowledge, and understand the various
communication and behavioral patterns present in other cultures locally and globally.

THE DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

According to Bennett and Bennett (2004), the developmental model of intercultural sensitivity (DMIS) has six stages which are as
follows:
STAGE-1 DENIAL
The individual does not recognize cultural differences

STAGE 2 DEFENSE
The individual starts to recognize cultural differences and is intimidated by them

STAGE 3 MINIMIZATION
Although the individual see cultural differences they bank more on the universality of ideas then cultural differences

STAGE 4 ACCEPTANCE
The individual begins to appreciate important cultural differences in behaviour and eventually in values

STAGE 5 ADAPTATION
The individual becomes very open to worldviews when accepting new perspectives

STAGE 6 INTEGRATION
The individual starts to go beyond their own culture and sees themselves as their actions based on multifarious cultural
viewpoints

Once you have understood the stages you may utilize a model which will help you recognize different communication
behaviors, take into account but you can influence is types of behaviors and analyze differences between linguistic and cultural
communities.

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

When you interact, negotiate, or convey information in a multicultural setting, you apply your intercultural communication
skills. Simply put, intercultural communication is a sending and receiving of information, ideas, or messages across languages
and cultures. Vulpe, Kealey, Protheroe and Macdonald (2001) of the center for intercultural learning released a publication
entitled “Profile of the Interculturally Effective Person,” which provides competencies of someone who works and communicate
successfully in another culture. According to Vulpe, et al. (2001), one of the major competencies of an intercultural effective
person is intercultural communication whose course skills include the following:
 Ability to express understandable and culturally sensitive thoughts, feelings, opinions, and expectations
 Ability to engage and immerse in the local culture and language
 Ability to establish shared meanings with the local people to avoid stereotyping and miscommunication
 Ability to develop a language capacity such as using local greetings and opportunities to use the local language in
other contexts
 Ability to empathize with how the local see the world

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNICATING IN A MULTICULTURAL CONTEXT

 Avoid asking inappropriate or personal questions
 Avoid stereotyping or generalizing certain groups. Keep an open mind and be flexible.
 Avoid using jargons, clichés, highfalutin terms, technical terms, acronyms, and gender-biased language.
 Be sensitive, polite, tactful, and respectful at all times particularly in relation to cultural practices, attitudes, and beliefs.
Learn and understand the value of diversity.
 Develop intercultural communication skills.
 Eliminate gender-biased words or sexist language particularly in writing. Refer to the ways on how to avoid gender bias
language listed in the succeeding section
 In case you do not get the message conveyed by the person you are communicating with, request them to repeat the
message or simplify it.
 Learn and observe physical distance or space in dealing with other people. In other cultures, shaking hands and hugging we
not be appropriate.
 Listen attentively when others are speaking.
 Observe patients in listening to other people's ideas, which may not be the same as yours.
 Pay attention to your nonverbal communication. Learn nonverbal cues of other cultures.
 Respect a person's rights to confidentiality and privacy.
  Show consideration.
 Speak gently and politely never shout to be understood.
 Stay calm, cool, and composed when you make a mistake or feel embarrassed by others. Culturally, others do not mean to
embarrass you.
 Make positive interpretations of the actions and words of other people.
 When you feel strange or uncomfortable about something being communicated by other people, request them to clarify
their meanings and intentions before you express your emotions and ideas.

GENDER BIASED WORDS FOR SEXIST LANGUAGE

Use words that are free from gender prejudice and unfair assumptions. Words must not influence the audience in any
particular or unfair direction.
Sexist Language Neutral
Chairman Chair Chairperson
Salesman Salesperson
Congressman Legislator
Spokesman Spokesperson
Foreman Supervisor
Stewardess Flight Attendant
Waitress Server
Policeman Police Officer
Fireman Firefighter
Man-Made Manufactured
Businessman Business Executive
Manpower Workforce

WAYS TO AVOID GENDER BIASED LANGUAGE

Substitute gender biased pronouns with articles or determiners
SEXIST Every employee is entitled to his 13th month pay.
NON-SEXIST Every employee is entitled to a 13th month pay.

Use plural pronouns instead of singular pronouns

SEXIST Each employee must submit his proposal next week.
NON-SEXIST All employees must submit their proposal next week.

Use either or pronouns (he/she, his/her, his/hers). However avoid putting men first all the time.
SEXIST Every applicant must fill out his own application form.
NON-SEXIST Every applicant must fill out his her own application form.

Use second person pronoun you you're over third person pronoun he she. Be careful not to change the meaning of the statement.
SEXIST The sales managers should prepare his marketing proposal for a new
product.
NON-SEXIST You should prepare your marketing proposal for our new product.

Use appropriate titles

SEXIST Dear Sir (unknown addressee)
NON-SEXIST Dear Sir or Madam (unknown addressee)
NON-SEXIST Attention: HR Manager

Note: Use Miss if you have no idea if the female addressee is single or married. Use Mrs. if you are sure that the female addressing is
married.
TASK 2
Directions: Look up the meaning of the following words and phrases below.
1. Take for granted
2. Cultural biases
3. Domestic workforce
4. Cultural overtones
5. Durable bond
6. Grossly disloyal

TASK 3
Directions: Read the following statements carefully decide if each statement is true or false write t on the blank if the statement is
true and f if the statement is false if the statement is false re-write or revise it to make it true.
_______ 1. Anyone who is a proficient speaker of a language will find communicating across cultures easy.

_______ 2. Our emotions do not matter whenever we communicate with others.

_______ 3. There is no such thing as a right culture or a wrong culture.

_______ 4. All cultures have the same way of thinking about time.

_______ 5. Communicating across cultures happens in one's own country because of the diverse domestic workforce of
many companies today.

References:
Barrot, J. S., & Sipacio, P. J. F. (2018). Purposive communication in the 21 century. C & E Publishing.
st

Barnlund, D. C. (2008). A transactional model of communication. In. C. D. Mortensen (Eds.), Communication theory (2nd Ed), pp. 47–
57. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction.
Madrunio, M. R. & Martin, I. P. (2018). Purposive communication: Using English in multicultural contexts. C & E Publishing.

Prepared by:
Alyssa Nicole
Purposive Communication Instructor
Prince of Peace College, Inc.
2021-2022