CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY

Academic Paradise of the South

College of Business and Management
GEC15: PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

Local and Global Communication in Multicultural Settings

BEDUA, Bambie

GALIDO, Charles Christian

LUGOD, Christyl Mharie

TEJARES, Daffodil

PULIDO, Nica
 CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY
Academic Paradise of the South
College of Business and Management
GEC15: PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

Local and Global Communication in Multicultural Settings

1. What is the topic of the article?

The topic of the article is all about how cultural insensitivity in a multicultural setting
results in a wide range of barriers in having effective and efficient communication.

2. What barriers to effective intercultural communication are enumerated by the author?

The barriers to effective intercultural communication that enumerated by the author in

the text are the following:

 Anxiety
 Assuming Similarities instead of Differences
 Ethnocentrism
 Stereotypes and prejudice
 Nonverbal Misinterpretation
 Language Problems

3. How can you overcome these barriers?

The best way to overcome these barriers is to open up our mind to change. Be
culturally and socially interactive and at the same time being sensitive. Know when to speak
and when to listen. With these little ways, we practice respect and appreciation so that both
sides will assure that they are seen, heard, valued and that no one is superior but both are
embracing change and learning.

4. What value is exemplified in the text?

Be open-minded. The willingness to interact with other people even though we have
different cultures and beliefs. This value will help us to be more respectful socially and
culturally. Because as a student, we may have different cultures, ethnicity and spoke
different language but we have the same goals and ambition. We can make sure that as
long as there is a collaborative effort, unity despite of our differences and open-mindedness,
together, we will conquer all the odds.

5. As a student, how can you challenge your own biases, perceptions, and ignorance when
working with students from cultures different from yours?

We cannot deny that we are still in an age where various beliefs are clashing with
each other. Problems sometimes occur such as misunderstanding between different
 CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY
Academic Paradise of the South
College of Business and Management
GEC15: PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

Local and Global Communication in Multicultural Settings

cultures. As students who are interacting with students from other cultures, the first thing we
must do is to face this challenge with open-mindedness and overcome our own biases,
perceptions, and ignorance. It is indeed a difficult task to easily accept others' beliefs. We
might even experience "culture shock". However, working with students from different
cultures does not necessarily mean that we have to adapt their beliefs in order for us to
understand them. We can educate ourselves by learning each other’s cultures without
thinking that we are better than them. Always keep in mind that there is no superior or
inferior culture. Of course, we have our own biases and that makes it more difficult for us to
adjust but if we broaden our perceptions, we can, then, realize that our differences will not
hinder us from working with one another. Let us avoid being ignorant by trying to neglect
others' own beliefs and rights because of our closed-mindedness. We can take it slow by
leisurely learning about each other, always giving respect to each person, and eventually
arriving at a mutual understanding where students can freely interact despite of our
differences. It is more fun making friends or acquaintances from different cultures than
comparing ourselves with them.