LESSON 2:

LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION IN MULTICULTURAL SETTINGS

Local and international businesses nowadays believe that schools should help students to think more
globally. Cultural awareness and understanding globaI issues are particularly valued and are as equally important
as learning a foreign language nowadays. Giving young people an understanding of how the world works can be
an important skill as far as thriving in life is concerned (Sutcliffe,2012).
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. explain how cultural and global issues affect communication.

2. appreciate the impact of communication on society and the world.

3. determine culturally appropriate terms, expressions, and images; and

4. adopt cultural and intercultural awareness and sensitivity in communicating ideas.

Activity 1: What I Know

Goodman and Berdan (2014) argue that every student should study abroad for the reason that “learning
how to interact with people from other countries and cultures equips future leaders in all sectors to address urgent
issues shared across borders" (par.4).
Did you ever dream of taking your undergraduate or graduate studies abroad? Given the opportunity and support,
where would you want to study? What course would you want to take? Why?
Prepare to share your answer to the class.
 Activity 2: It Makes Sense

Going abroad though is not as simple as you think. Crucial that you are prepared to interact with
different cultures.

Let us see how well you know some distinct manners and practices of different cultures. Write TRUE if
the statement expresses truth about the countries'distinct practices; otherwise, write FALSE. Most of these
items are taken from “Multicultural manners:New rules of etiquette for a changing society." of Dresser (1996).
On Body Language

1.When greeting, people from India hold their hands together in front of their chins in a
prayer-like position.
2. When greeting, most Latinos expect body contact. Hugging and kissing on the cheek
are acceptable for both the same sex and the opposite sex.

3. When greeting, most Middle Easterners, especially Muslims, avoid body contact with
the opposite sex, but men may embrace and kiss one another.

4. When greeting, most Armenians, expect some body contact. Women kiss once on each
cheek and hug; men shake hands.
5. When greeting Orthodox Jews, avoid body contact with the opposite sex.

On Verbal Expressions

1. Avoid wishing “Happy Birthday” or “Merry Christmas” to Jehovah's Witnesses.

2. After receiving praise, many Asians feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. They may
even consider praise as a form of subtle criticism.

3. Some Asian cultures consider it rude to say no and will go to extremes to avoid doing
so.

4. Open criticism should be avoided when dealing with Asian employees, as this may
lead to loss of face.

5. Do not assume a married woman has her husband's last name.

On Classroom Behavior

1. To avoid emotional upset for Korean children and parents,do not write students' names in
red-this has death connotations.

2. If an Asian student bows to you, nod your head in response.

3. Those from educational systems outside the United States often consider informal, noisy
classrooms as places of play, not learning.

4. Students from outside the United States are often shocked by some teachers' behavior-sitting
on desks, wearing casual clothing, encouraging students to call them by their first names,
engaging in humorous banter.
5. In Jamaica and other parts of the Carribean, teachers are respected and revered and rarely
challenged.

Activity 3: We'll Figure It Out

In this activity, you will reflect on the innovations in international education. TopUniversities.com in 2016
named unusual courses that we never knew existed abroad. They are as follows:

10 Unusual Courses You Did not know Existed

1. Master's degree in peace and conflict studies

2. Bachelor's or Master's degree in eco-technology

3. Bachelor's or Master's degree in game design

4. Master's degree in communication for development

5. Master's degree in open e-government

6. Master's degree in outdoor environmental education and outdoor learning

7. Master's degree in automotive engineering

8. Master's degree in spacecraft design

9. Master's program in energy for smart cities

 10. Master's program in water resources engineering

Discuss these questions in your group:

1. Do these courses appeal to you?

2. How does this vast array of career options benefit you?

3. What do these courses tell about our global society?

4. What do these courses tell about you?

 5. What do these courses tell about the nature of subjects and disciplines in this modern time?

6.What do these courses tell about global communication?

Prepare to share your group's answer to the class.

If you were to create new degrees today, what would they be? Fill out the table below with the necessary
information.

Degree Name Description Requirements

Activity 4: I Can Do It

Your final task is to find and interview foreign students in the Philippines. Discover how they manage to adapt
to the language and culture in the country. What questions will you ask? With your partner, create a simple guide/tips
list on “How to Adapt to a Foreign Culture." Think of a creative title for your work (e.g., Best Advice to Move
Abroad from Expat Students; The Inherent Risks of Study Abroad; A Student's Guide to Choosing a Study Abroad
Program)
Explor s-https://www.thechopras.com/blog.html?year=2015&start=130. It is a consultancy service online that
e The provides guidance and support to students wishing to study abroad. Watch the students and graduates'
Chopra testimonials at the website. Discover how they Manama to adapt to the language and culture of abroad.

CRITERIA FOR GRADING

Ideas/Content
20 pts.
Organization
10 pts
Grammar and Mechanics
5 pts
TOTAL
35 pts.

Digital Portfolio: Upload your completed Activity 4 in your Digital Portfolio.

Print Portfolio: Insert the completed Activity 4 in your Print Portfolio.

SELF-REFLECTION

Have you interacted with people who have a different culture from yours? How was your interaction with them? Was

it clear? Was it productive? Was it respectful? What could you have done for a better interaction?

What is your attitude towards people who have a different culture from yours?Do you celebrate how they are

different from you? Do you look down on them?