the key ingredients to successful cross-cultural communication and multicultural collaboration

 Although attaining lingustic proficiency is very important for L2 or EFL learners, this is not sufficient. To become proficient and effective communicators, learners need to attain second language sociocultural competence. Hymes emphasizes that the learning of culture is an integral part of language learning and education because it crucially influences the values of the community, everyday interaction, the norms of speaking and behaving, and the sociocultural expectations of an individual's roles. He further notes that those who do not follow the norms of appropriateness accepted in a community are often placed in a position that exacerbates social disparties and inequality. Thus, we have to  focus on learning culturally appropriate ways of communicating in speech or writing  as well as liguistic,  pragmatic competence.

  To be a good communicatior in cross-cultural settings, firstly we have to notice that sociocultural norms exist in all languages and try to be astute and consistent people watchers. This is, we must have awarence and the tools that will allow them to achieve our academic, pofessional, social, and personal goals and become successful in their daily functioning in  L2 or EFL environments. Secondly, we have to be more receptive to other cultures and be willing to engage in the communication with native speakers. Thirdly, we have to enjoy communicating with native speakers.

Discussion Questions

1. Think of some specific examples of aspects of your dominant cultures (and subcultures that are above the waterline and below it (according to the Iceberg metaphor).

Some specific examples of my dominant cultures are teacher, fortysomething, swimming club and so on. They are very important to me in my life. Actually they're consisted of my life. This is, they are just my life. I spend most time in school on the weekdays. I am into teaching. My friends are mostly teachers in forties. We affect each other and sometimes, we offer encouragement to one another when being in trouble. One of My subcultures is backpacking trips. Traveling has always been in my blood. So I've been on a few backpacking trips. It was difficult at times living out of a backpack and being tight with my money. But I got so much out of it. Despite the initial culture shock, I came back to Korea with a better understanding of other cultures and more confidence.

 

2. In your experiences with (or as) a stranger, how did you make predictions necessary to interact in those situations?

 

I had a lot of experience as a stranger when taking trips. I usually greeted the local people with smiling first and then I show my interest to them to have friendly relations with local people. Plus, I tried to communicate with them using body language and facial expressions and so on. It worked all the time.

 

3. Discuss experiences when you made predictions about a stranger (or predictions were made about you) that proved to be accurate or not.

 

When I traveled to Hunza valley, the northern province of Pakistan, I was in trouble. Because the snowslide happened suddenly, the traffic was stopped. I had to get on a boat. But the boat had already gone. To make matters worse, there was no hotel. So I needed a place to stay. I greeted young people who look like university students. I tried to communicate with them to get some information. They were rich and are of high standing. Moreover, they had much pride about their religion and wanted to show off. I tried to respect them and listened to them sincerely. We made good friends and we traveled together.  

 

4. Is it possible to truly understand a culture outside of your own? Why or why not?

 

I think it is difficult to truly understand other cultures. We can understand the cultures superficially by coming across new culture but however hard I have tried, we can’t understand them thoroughly because there is something that we can’t see and listen to in the cultures.