Intercultural Communication
Core Value
What Does Intercultural Communication Mean?A global citizen values connecting within and across cultures and languages. A global citizen does not expect the world to present itself in a familiar way and is willing to utilize verbal and non-verbal strategies to adapt.
What You Need To Do:
Engage with people in another language and culture and communicate thoughtfully and appropriately
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Engage with people in another language or culture and do so thoughtfully.
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Compare/contrast cultural norms and expectations (for example: dress code) with the intention of discovering how to communicate across linguistic and cultural barriers.
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Consider situations in which you felt cultural and/or linguistic discomfort and the strategies you've used in those situations (potentially using the language being studied at school).
Will My Reflection Be Approved?
Describe a time when you engaged with a different culture and the strategies you used to communicate effectively. Reflect on how this influenced your thinking about language and communication. In other words, answer the question:
“How and in what way, has this encounter changed my thinking or appreciation for linguistic and cultural difference?"
Annotated Example
Guiding Questions
Developing new understanding - Overall, how did this experience develop new understandings/change you as a global citizen?
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E.g. How did this experience change the way I explore and appreciate linguistic and cultural differences?
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What languages and cultural identities do you identify with?
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Describe a time when you engaged with a different language or different cultural norms.
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What strategies (verbal and/or nonverbal) did you use to communicate effectively, and respectfully without resorting to your native language?
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How did this influence your thinking about language and communication?
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How did this experience build your appreciation for cultural differences?
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How did this experience change you as a global citizen?