I Was An International Traveler Or An Intercultural Trainer

Communication involves more than exchanging words between people. Gestures, postures, facial expressions and even eye contacts are important during communication. Both verbal and nonverbal cues are important during communication and can help a person understand the speaker or listener’s emotions, attitudes or status. Understanding the existence of various cultures is necessary since different cultures have varying ways of communication (Lustig & Koester, 2012). Therefore, a communication style that is perceived as bad by a culture may be good in another culture. Besides, characteristics that may be essential for a particular culture may be quite irrelevant for another. In line with this dissimilarity, individuals need to adapt carefully and understand communication preferences and desires among cultures.

The chapter continued to discuss how people experience other cultures when they are removed from their area to a different place. This occurs in the form of culture shock people experience new traditions that are unfamiliar to them when the come to a place that is home to another culture. Human development may also include joining the ideas of various cultures and forming it into a new concept. It puts heavy emphasis on learning other cultures in an unbiased form in order to compare and make observations. This chapter also studies of culture have been able to advance over time and how change is an essential aspect of

In order for assimilation to occur a minority group becomes an integrated part of the majority group; this assimilation results in non-distinguishing of one group from another by cultural characteristics. In order for this process to be complete, it must entail, not only an active effort by the minority group to shed all distinguishing actions and beliefs, and also complete unqualified acceptance of that individual by the dominant society.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, “No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive” (Mahatma). Our culture identifies who we are and how we behave in social environments and provides us with a foundation in which to live our lives and raise our families. Each individual culture has certain customs and courtesies that are important. Exposure to the cultures of others can be intimidating and can leave a person feeling confused and unsure about how they fit in (Schaefer 60). Culture shock can leave a person feeling out of place in an unfamiliar culture (Schaefer 60). Our diverse societies demand understanding and acceptance of other cultures. Learning and understanding these cultures before being

Another example of how different social and cultural differences effect the way people communicate is a parent of a pupil I work quite closely with can not read. This is a social difference because it effects the way she communicates socially with other parents at the school and also the staff who work their. We can not communicate with this

Culture is the shared values, norms, language, customs and practices of a group. It also refers to different sub-groups within society. It is important to understand how culture affects our behaviour in order to gain a full understanding of the people we encounter and those we work with. Watson found that the average amount of eye contact made varied between countries, with high degrees of eye contact being seen as insolent by some Africans and East Asians, whereas among Indians and Latin-Americans this was seen as desirable.

In sixteen years of life, I have received an opportunity to experience different cultures, learning styles, and languages. To start of, I am an American since I was born here, but the reality is that I was raised in India. My parents’ main motivation for moving back to India was because they wanted us to embrace our traditions, and most importantly, value our family relationships. We relocated back to the US at the start of 9th grade. This transition was a huge factor for transforming me as a person. I am cognizant of the two systems, cherish both, and realize that these multicultural experiences have encouraged me to grow and mature beyond my years. Relocating from a place is not as easy as one can imagine. When compared to the US, India

culture in order to fully become part of a different society (“Assimilate”, 2015). This type of

Intercultural concepts can be seen throughout My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Enculturation is the process of learning ones culture. It is considered to be the conscious and unconscious conditioning that occurs, which enables the individual to understand his or her culture (Hu, M, personal communication, September 2nd, 2015). The movie starts out with Toula describing how she was raised and learned about her culture. She talks about having to go to Greek school when she wanted to be a girl scout and having to

Ethnocentrism is the belief that in the superiority of one's own race and the preoccupation with race (Spector., 2009., p. 12). Acculturation is similar to assimilation in that the person acculmates to the dominant culture and develops a new cultural identity, however, it is involuntary and is survival within a new culture (Spector., 2009., p. 19). Assimilation is where a person becomes like the dominant culture in all ways and "ceases to conform to any standard of life that differs from the dominant group standards" (Spector., 2009., p.

Acculturation is known as a cultural change and psychological change that results following meeting between cultures at multiple levels in both interacting cultures. It has also been referred to the changes in personal values, beliefs, behaviours, and ways of living that an immigrant or minority individual makes as a result of adapting to the mainstream cultural or behavioural norms (Berry, Kim, Minde, & Mok, 1987). Acculturation often results in changes to culture, customs, and social institutions. In this modern era, through technology and media, people have been constantly engaging online to learn and understand new cultures, norms and languages. Acculturation is more than simply learning the English language, but also understanding the history of a new country, navigating its idioms and understanding the concepts behind its holidays.

Working in a field where there is a development in psychology on a daily basis. It helps to understand the various ways to deal with individuals as these new areas of psychology progress. With children being the future it was important to understand how to relate to them. The process of acculturation is important especially when an individual migrated to another area they are not familiar with. The individual has to adapt to an environment while keeping their culture or losing their culture. In the idea of acculturation the individual has to learn new behaviors, language, and way of living. The various programs that is available to help children adjust to their new way of life in America. The acculturation is the dual process of cultural psychological change that takes places as a result of contract between two or more cultural groups and the individual involved. In order for progression the must be change. The most surprising aspect of multicultural society is the advantages and disadvantages of the education provided to the children. In a multicultural community all partied involves needs to respect the culture of everyone. The most surprising area in the current multicultural community is that schools are taking the initiative and embracing a multicultural curriculum into the education of the students. The school officials are

Intercultural communication is commonly explained as an interaction between people of 'different cultures whether defined in terms of racial, ethnic or socioeconomic differences.' Human communication consists of verbal and nonverbal messages (language and gestures) which are shaped by gender, social class or culture. Thus, what perimeters define the intercultural exchange and what primary messages do we need or try to convey?

The seven cultural variables are the way different people inside contrasting societies are able to communicate with each other and understand what is happening. These contrasting attitudes, beliefs and ideas will shape how they relate to one another and their focus on interacting with numerous individuals. For example, inside the United States the most effective way of discussing what is happening is through presenting objective information directly. While other societies (such as: Sweden), are focusing on two way discourse and establishing friendly relationships. These differences are showing how there are contrasting views as to how various people interact with each other and understand what is happening. (Sepehri, 2011)

Learning about a new culture is very common now days. Most people immigrate to other countries looking for different goals in life. Some people immigrate for safety purposes; some people are looking for better opportunities and different quality of life. For some people adjust themselves to a new culture is easy; the younger they are the easiest is to adjust to a new different culture and a different way to live. However, there are many people who struggle every day trying to learn about a different culture.