CAS 101

We live in a globalized world, we often interact with people from different cultural

backgrounds. Therefore, intercultural communication is ineluctable. Communicating with people

from different cultural backgrounds is necessary for business, education , and community.

Globalization has made the world united, because people from different cultural backgrounds

have gathered together for certain common interests. Intercultural communication is important in

every profession, which is why the art of communicating with people from different cultures is

one of the essential skills in life. Intercultural communication skills empower us not only to

communicate effectively, but also to share information with people from other cultures.

Understanding and respecting the values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of others, possessing

rich knowledge of verbal and non-verbal skills, and removing ethnocentrism views that we hold,

are the best ways to achieve effective intercultural communication.

Abu-Arqoub and Alserhan(2019) conducted a study titled “Non-Verbal Barriers to

effective Intercultural communication”. The study aims to explore the factors that cause non-

verbal barriers, their types and their impact on effective communication, as well as our lives, to

make people aware of the importance of overcoming these barriers. The conclusion of this

research is that when the sender (speaker) and the receiver (listener) do not fully understand each

other's language and culture, misunderstandings, miscommunication, and misinterpretation of

nonverbal information will occur. The verbal and nonverbal communicating plays Vital role in

intercultural communication it is our way to communicate to other people. Possessing rich

knowledge of verbal and nonverbal skills is really essential for us to be able to minimize as much

as possible the misunderstandings, miscommunication, and misinterpretation of nonverbal and

verbal information during the communication process between the people with different cultures.

People face the challenge of Prejudice when they communicate to other people from

different cultures, due to the pre-judgment passed in this intercultural environment, there is a

lack of communication and interaction. This irrational perception created can cause breakdown

of communication pattern. According to Jandt (2010), prejudice refers to irrational hatred—a gap

based on hatred of a certain group, religion, actor, or race. In this way, prejudice inevitably

hinders intercultural communication, because it is the source of aggravating the victimization of

certain groups. Eliminating prejudice in intercultural communication is one of the way to achieve

effective intercultural communication, To do this, we must overcome the prejudices that can be

communicated through communication and fellowship. Even if we do not show prejudices, we

may still have deep-rooted prejudices that govern our behaviors and habits. Try to participate in

new experiences with an open mind and get to know more people from different cultures to

remove any prejudice barriers that may exist. If we are victims of prejudice, please try not to

form a broad view of everyone based on our experience. Just because a person possesses certain

beliefs does not mean that all people have such beliefs.

Ethnocentrism refers to the tendency of people to believe that their race, culture, or ethnic

group is superior to everyone else. The cultural identity of any ethnic group is uniquely

determined by religion, race, behavior, customs, and language. This attitude makes the
individual think that other groups are inferior to his or her own group. According to

ivypanda.com November 2019 article titled Effects of ethnocentrism, Ethnocentrism closes the

minds of individuals from understanding the way of life and cultures of other people. This may

affect social interactions among people of different cultures living in the same geographical area.

This may end up affecting the functioning of the social group by making it unstable. The society

may exist in fear because the individuals don’t trust one another. We should always bear in mind

that there is no culture that is superior to the other worldwide. Each culture has its own

uniqueness just like every individual in the world.

Intercultural communication is essential for several reasons, it helps every individual to

adapt new environment and enhancing cultural awareness. Their are many barriers or hinders

that should remove or avoid in order to achieve effective intercultural communication. We must

Understands one’s culture and respects their values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, and be

knowledgeable on the right way on communicating through verbal and nonverbal, and

effectively reacting sensitively to other people from different cultures. We cannot change the fact

that intercultural communication skills are requirements due to the globalization and every

individual should know how can achieve effective intercultural communication for the

betterment of ourselves, our country, and our world.