Inter Cultural Competence PPT 3 ( 2014 ) - part 2

Inter Cultural Competence

Christ University has students from all over the country and 54 countries around the world which brings different cultures together on campus. Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Culture is interwoven with society and therefore the social context matters. It influences an individual’s attitude, thinking, interaction and communication with one another. 

Culture is a word for people's ‘way of life’, meaning the way they do things. Different groups of people may have different cultures. A culture is passed on to the next generation by learning, whereas genetics are passed on by heredity. Culture is seen in people's writing, religion, music, clothes, cooking, and in what they do.

The concept of culture is complex, and the word has many meanings. The word 'culture' is most commonly used in three senses:

1.      Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture.

2.      An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behaviour.

3.      The outlook, attitudes, values, goals, and customs shared by a society.

Most broadly, 'culture' includes all human phenomena which are not purely results of human genetics. The discipline which investigates cultures is called anthropology, though many other disciplines play a part.

Cultures are what make countries unique. Each country has different cultural activities and cultural rituals. Culture is more than just material goods, that is things the culture uses and produces. Culture is also the beliefs and values of the people in that culture. Culture also includes the way people think about and understand the world and their own lives.

Different countries have different cultures. For example, some older Japanese people wear kimonos, arrange flowers in vases, and have tea ceremonies.

Culture can also vary within a region, society or sub group. A workplace may have a specific culture that sets it apart from similar workplaces. A region of a country may have a different culture than the rest of the country. For example, Atlantic Canada has a different culture than the rest of Canada, which is expressed by different ways of talking, different types of music, and different types of dances. A family may have a specific set of values, because of this people every time follow their religion to have or find new culture. Culture is also how people dress.

Western culture

The term Western culture has come to define the culture of European countries as well as those such as the United States that have been heavily influenced by European immigration. Western culture has its roots in the Classical Period of the Greco-Roman era and the rise of Christianity in the 14th century.

Eastern culture

Eastern culture generally refers to the societal norms of countries in South East Asia ( which includes China, Japan, Vietnam, North Korea and South Korea) and the Indian subcontinent. Like the West, Eastern culture was heavily influenced by religion during its early development. In general, in Eastern culture there is less of a distinction between secular society and religious philosophy than there is in the West.

Latin culture

Many of the Spanish-speaking nations are considered part of the Latin culture, while the geographic region is widespread. Latin America is typically defined as those parts of the Central America, South America and Mexico where Spanish or Portuguese are the dominant languages. While Spain and Portugal are on the European continent, they are considered the key influencers of what is known as Latin culture, which denotes people using languages derived from Latin, also known as Romance languages.

Middle Eastern culture

The countries of the Middle East have some but not all things in common, including a strong belief in Islam and religion is a very strong pillar of this society. The Arabic language is also common throughout the region; however, the wide variety of dialect can sometimes make communication difficult.

African culture

The continent of Africa is essential two cultures — North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The continent is comprised of a number of tribes, ethnic and social groups. One of the key features of this culture is the large number of ethnic groups — some countries can have 20 or more — and the diversity of their beliefs

Northwest Africa in particular has strong ties to European and Southwestern Asia. The area also has a heavy Islamic influence and is a major player in the Arab world.

The harsh environment has been a large factor in the development of Sub-Saharan Africa culture, as there are a number of languages, cuisines, art and musical styles that have sprung up among the far-flung populations.

What is intercultural competence?

Intercultural competence assumes importance over the last few years owing to globalization and worldwide contacts between companies, organizations and individuals need the ability to communicate in a successful way.

The basic needs are sensitivity and self-consciousness: the understanding of other behaviours and ways of thinking as well as the ability to express one’s own point of view in a transparent way with the aim to be understood and respected by staying flexible where this is possible, and being clear and transparent where this is necessary.

Intercultural competence is the ability for successful communication with people of other cultures. This ability could exist at a young age, or be developed and improved thanks to willpower and competence. The basis for successful intercultural communication is emotional competence, together with intercultural sensitivity. The goal of assessing intercultural competence is to find out if a person has this ability or the potential for it.

Cultures can be different not only between continents or nations, but also within the same company or even family: every human being has his or her individual history, life and therefore also (in a certain extent) its own culture response, cultural affiliation linked to geographical, ethnical, moral, ethical, religious, political, historical backgrounds.

The Components of ICC

ICC is a complex phenomenon with multiple components.

·        These components include:

·        a variety of characteristics or traits;

·        three areas or domains;

·        four dimensions;

·        proficiency in a second language;

·        And various levels of a longitudinal and developmental process.

Characteristics or Traits - Some commonly cited traits of ICC include: flexibility, humor, patience, openness, interest, curiosity, empathy, tolerance for ambiguity, and suspending judgment, among others.

Three Areas - ICC involves ability in three areas or domains:

 • the ability to establish and maintain relationships;

 • the ability to communicate with minimal loss or distortion;

 • the ability to collaborate in order to accomplish something of mutual interest or need.

Intercultural competence is the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with people of other cultures. In interactions with people from foreign cultures, a person who is inter-culturally competent understands the culture-specific concepts of perception, thinking, feeling, and acting. Intercultural competence is also called "cross-cultural competence"

Cultures can be different not only between continents or nations but also within the same company and even within the same family. The differences may be ethical, ethnic, geographical, historical, moral, political, or religious.

The basic requirements for intercultural competence are empathy, an understanding of other people's behaviors and ways of thinking, and the ability to express one's own way of thinking. It is a balance, situationally adapted, among four parts:

•                     Knowledge (about other cultures and other people's behaviors)

•                     Empathy (understanding the feelings and needs of other people)

•                     Self-confidence (knowledge of one's own desires, strengths, weaknesses, and emotional stability)

•                     Cultural identity (knowledge of one's own culture)

A salient issue, especially for people living in countries other than their native country, is the issue of which culture they should follow. Should they try to fit in and adapt to the culture surrounding them, or should they hold on to their native culture and try to avoid interacting with the culture surrounding them? This issue is increasingly common today. Globalization has caused immigration rates to rise sharply for most developed and developing countries. In a country that is strange to them, immigrants are surrounded by a culture that does not belong to them.

International students also face this issue: they have a choice of modifying their cultural boundaries and adapting to the culture around them or holding on to their native culture and surrounding themselves with people from their own country. The students who decide to hold on to their native culture are those who experience the most problems in their university life and who encounter frequent culture shocks. But international students who adapt themselves to the culture surrounding them (and who interact more with domestic students) will increase their knowledge of the domestic culture, which may help them to "blend in" more. Such individuals may be said to have adopted bicultural identities.

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