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Assignment Cross Cultural Comm Nishant

The document discusses the challenges faced by Alex and his roommate Joon in cross-cultural communication, particularly highlighting the differences between direct and indirect communication styles. Alex, an American, interprets Joon's vague responses literally, leading to misunderstandings about preferences. To improve their communication, both should increase awareness of cultural differences, clarify expectations, encourage honest expression, and adapt their styles accordingly.

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3 views

Assignment Cross Cultural Comm Nishant

The document discusses the challenges faced by Alex and his roommate Joon in cross-cultural communication, particularly highlighting the differences between direct and indirect communication styles. Alex, an American, interprets Joon's vague responses literally, leading to misunderstandings about preferences. To improve their communication, both should increase awareness of cultural differences, clarify expectations, encourage honest expression, and adapt their styles accordingly.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Assignment: 3

Communication Skills
Cross Cultural Communication
Semester: II
UIC

Alex, experiences challenges in cross-cultural communication with his roommate, Joon, who
comes from a different cultural background.

Alex, a junior majoring in business from the US, shares a dorm room with Joon, an
international student from South Korea. They have been roommates for a semester, and
initially, they got along well. However, over time, Alex started to notice some differences in
their communication styles.

One day, Alex invited Joon to join them for dinner at a nearby restaurant. Joon agreed, but
when Alex asked what they wanted to eat, Joon replied, "Whatever is fine." Alex took this as
a sign that Joon was okay with whatever option and chose a restaurant. However, when they
arrived, Joon seemed hesitant and didn't enjoy the meal.

Questions:
1. What challenge does this scenario highlight in cross-cultural communication?
Ans 1: This scenario highlights the challenge of indirect versus direct communication
styles in cross-cultural interactions. Different cultures have varying ways of expressing
preferences and opinions, which can lead to misunderstandings. In this case, Joon’s
indirect way of responding to Alex’s question ("Whatever is fine") may have been meant
as politeness rather than an actual preference, while Alex interpreted it literally, assuming
Joon was comfortable with any option.
2. Highlight their communication styles from your understanding of the scenario.
 Ans2 :
As an American student, Alex likely follows a low-context communication style, where
individuals are expected to express their thoughts clearly and explicitly. He asked Joon
what he wanted to eat and took Joon’s response at face value, assuming full honesty
without reading between the lines.
Joon's communication style: Indirect and implicit
 Coming from South Korea, Joon may follow a high-context communication style,
where politeness and indirect communication play a significant role. Instead of stating
his preference outright, he provided a vague response to be polite or avoid seeming
demanding. When he didn’t enjoy the meal, it revealed that his initial response didn’t
fully reflect his true preference.

3. What can Alex and Joon do to improve their cross-cultural communication?


Ans3: Increase Awareness: Both roommates should take time to understand each other's
cultural differences in communication styles. Recognizing indirect versus direct communication
can help prevent misunderstandings.

Clarify Expectations: Instead of assuming the meaning behind statements, they should ask
follow-up questions. For example, Alex could say, "Are there any places or types of food you
prefer?" instead of taking Joon’s vague response as an acceptance of any choice.
Encourage Honest Expression: Joon can work on expressing his preferences more
openly, while Alex can practice patience and sensitivity in interpreting responses.
Adapt and Learn: Both should be open to adjusting their communication styles to
create a more comfortable environment for each other.

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