UNIT 3

 

Living and Working - Communication and Culture




1.K.I.S.S.
Keep It Short and Simple!

2. Listen Actively
You were blessed with two ears for a reason: So you can listen twice as much as you speak!

3. Draw and Write to Clarify Things
Remember that nonverbal communication (body language and voice tone) accounts for 90% of our message, even when we are communicating within our own culture.

4. Avoid Slang, Jargon and Colloquial Expressions
These can lead to misunderstandings as they differ widely from culture to culture, even when people share the same language.

5. Avoid the Use of Acronyms
DFAIT, YIP, RL, RCMP are confusing to most people.

6. Use Stories
Telling the right personal stories can build rapport.

7. Don't Use "Play on Words" Jokes
English humour and jokes often depend on subtle nuances of the language. These often don't translate properly and can make the other person feel stupid.

8. Be Patient in Conversations
The person you are speaking with may need time to respond.

 


Exercise: Click to play Who do you think I am?

 

Iceberg Model of
Crosscultural Communication

Each of us has had the experience of developing strategies for adjusting and functioning in new situations, for example: Taking on a new job, moving to a new location, living with a partner or moving away from home. These adjustments are similar to what you will experience living overseas.

Culture can be described as an iceberg. At the "tip of the iceberg" are the visual manifestations of culture. Under the surface (in the main body of the iceberg) are the underlying, ingrained patterns of thought, learning and belief systems. These are most often the areas that cause misunderstandings when communicating across cultures.

 

Do you know how people from other countries perceive Canadians? It is not always the same as the way we perceive ourselves! Here is a list of observations that may surprise you!

Canadians.....

  1. Smile a lot and are very friendly.
  2. Accept differences and are truly multicultural.
  3. Love pets, sometimes more than people.
  4. Are so polite it is hard to know what they really mean or really think.
  5. Always think they are busy.
  6. Live in a beautiful and clean country.
  7. Are time keepers and rule followers.
  8. Talk a lot and interrupt other people.
  9. Finish our sentences even though it's not what we meant.
  10. Avoid disagreement or argument.
  11. Stick together and speak English.
  12. Don't like to be mistaken for Americans.
  13. Think that if they don't tell you something you won't know it: They talk a lot about their own abilities and accomplishments.
  14. Ask lots of questions to fill up the silence.
  15. Expect others to make choices (i.e. "Do you want to open the window? I'm wondering if you want to go to the movie?").
  16. Are not REAL friends: their work and private lives are separate.
  17. Play really boring sports alone: i.e. jogging, hiking, biking, rowing, skiing.

 


 

Roles and Representations

Interns are always given a number of different tasks and roles during their placements. At home people play a variety of different "roles" during the course of every day - daughter, car driver, pedestrian, customer, friend, student, club member, etc. Roles differ markedly from culture to culture and from one behavioural setting to another. What roles will you play during your internship?

[don't see the above graphics? Download the latest Flash Player here]

Some Guidelines on How to Behave Overseas

[extracted from "Let them eat termites" , Al Cook, Overseas Training Institute, Ottawa, Ontario;
available on the Canadian Lawyer's Assoc. for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) website]

 

#1 Words alone are not enough - by your actions you shall be known.

Remember that you are only in your destination country for a limited time, then you are back in Canada with another notch on your resume, leaving those at your placement and in your host country to live with whatever you have done - including whatever mess you may have caused.

Your colleagues at your placement don't know you, and when you arrive there they have no reason to trust you. You have to give them reason. Not by talk. By your actions. Show them that you put your placement above yourself and your personal agenda.

Be a good listener, and try to keep out of partisan politics - especially at the office!

 

#2 Have a light touch, have a bit of fun and get involved!

By joining any of the following organizations, you will meet local people and allow them to get to know you on a personal level:

    Social clubs
    Sports teams
    Religious groups
    Whatever else interests you!

 

#3 Be generous.

In Canada to be a cheapskate is irritating... but in some parts of the world it is a mortal sin!

People will understand you're not rich but do your best to be as generous as possible given your circumstances. Sometimes the gesture of giving is more important than how much you actually give.

 

#4 Avoid "The Great Canadian Solution"!

Try not to be a know-it-all or an advice giver. The people you are working with will have local knowledge and ways of accomplishing things of which you may be unaware.

    "Why don't you..."
    "In Canada we do it this way..."

Leave the solutions in Canada!

 

#5 "I made sacrifices to come here..."

No you didn't - don't kid yourself! You went overseas to have a great experience, to enhance your CV, and hopefully to make a contribution to the local community.

[extracted from "Let them eat termites" , Al Cook, Overseas Training Institute, Ottawa, Ontario;
available on the Canadian Lawyer's Assoc. for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) website]

 

Adaptation and Adjustment

As you encounter the differences in living and working in your host country, you may find yourself asking: "Why are they acting like that? What is going on here? Why don't they just do it the reasonable way? Where is their common sense?"

Interns often experience a kaleidoscope of emotional responses ranging from excitement, delight, and curiosity to restlessness, anxiety and a longing for home. With such rapidly changing reactions and feelings, you may feel exhausted, frustrated and angry at times.

The following graph shows a typical adjustment pattern in the process of cross-cultural adaptation. This process is different for each intern, but the highs and lows are experienced by most people.

The Stages of the Process of Cross-Cultural Adjustment


[source for diagram - Nancy J Adler. International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior. 2002]

JUST BEFORE DEPARTURE
"I can't wait to go."

Emotions are often very positive. Just before departure, people are usually excited and looking forward to their internship..

IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS
"It's new and exciting."

Immediately after arrival, people are usually very happy to explore and discover all the new aspects of life in another country. They are in the "honeymoon" stage.

PART WAY THROUGH THE STAY
"It's not as nice as I thought! I wish I could just go home."


Emotions can be very negative. High stress level, dissatisfaction and frustration, some health problems. One day, the individual feels great, the next terrible. Different people experience different degrees of culture shock. Building up a social network of interns, nationals and internationals can be vital to helping you with the adjustment.

TOWARDS THE END OF THE STAY
"It's been a great experience...I'm not ready to go home."


Emotions are getting back to normal. The intern is starting to feel comfortable with life and work in the host country and has built up a depth of understanding of the culture.

RE-ENTRY

" It's great to be home but nobody understands me and nobody wants to hear about my wonderful experience....they don't even want to see my pictures! I can't relate to my old friends any more"


Things change at home while you are gone. For returning interns, emotions are confusing. It is natural to make constant comparisons between the two cultures. People get tired of hearing about your experience. You will need to find ways to discuss and debrief your experience with sympathetic listeners: friends, family, people from your host country and other interns.

The New You: Who Will You Become On Your Internship?

The more you put into your international internship, the more you will get out of it. The experience you are about to embark on will be unique, and with planning, preparation, and awareness, it will provide you with a wealth of skills, friendships, and good memories.

Take the time to reflect on your experiences before, during, and after your stay. The record you keep of your insights and learning will be a valuable resource to you in the years to come, whatever path you choose to pursue when you return.

Best wishes on your international placement!

Thoughts from returning interns:

 

  To me it seemed glamorous to be rushing off to the far reaches of the world to help people learn about computer systems.those less fortunate. I was drawn to the adventure of it. After my first trip after highschool to Europe, I knew I loved travel, and I love discovering new cultures. This trip made me appreciate Canada more than ever.

 

  It was a great experience to me personally. The first two to three months, I wanted to get out of Hong Kong because I couldn't stand it. Then I sort of adapted to the lifestyle, the people and the culture. My Cantonese has improved dramatically and I can now read alot more. I did not even make a conscious effort to learn to read chinese characters, I learned just by watching TV and reading restaurant menue and street signs. I went on vacation to Australia but now that I am back in HOng KOng, I think I can call it my second home (second to Vancouver that is). It was a great experience personally and had a great impact on me because I learned a lot about human nature and how to react to people who don't come from the same place as I do.

 

  While I did socialize mostly with anglos, I did make quite a few local friends and didn't find it at all difficult. As an example, I was invited to go to a hockey game with a guy from work and his friends. While there was a bit of a language barrier, after a few beers at a hockey game it was easy to communicate what we wanted to get across. Contrary to the typical stereotype that the locals are orderly and quiet, the fans at this game were by far louder and more boisterous than anything I have seen at a Canadian game. I ended up going to a couple of games and had a great time. I also made a really good friend at work with whom I will stay in contact, he was very helpful in providing advice and getting things accomplished at work when I ran into the bureaucracy.

 

  Professionally the internship was a success. this was largely based on the fact that I was culturally acclimatised before I had set foot on local soil. Relating to Filipinos, Chinese and other locals was natural for me. My best moment came at the conclusion of 2 gruelling days of meetings and presentations, i gave a piano concert for the senior staff of the central bank of the Philippines. Our company was subsequently awarded a coveted dealing license for Commodity and Foreign Exchange products.
This was very rewarding personally and professionally.