CROSS CULTURAL

UNDERSTANDING
ANI WULANDARI S.S., M.M
 ABOUT THE COURSE
 COURSE COMPETENCE:
 To make the students familiar with the concept of
culture in general, in particular, the culture of
foreign people whose language he/ she is
learning.
 COURSE DESCRIPTION:
 The course is designed for the students able to
understand cross cultural understanding and its
relationship with the language and cultural values
of target language. By understanding the culture
of the foreign people can help to build the spirit
of international understanding and friendliness.
Cross cultural communication focuses on how people from
different cultures, background, beliefs and communities
communicate across different cultures
 INTRODUCTION

 Cross Cultural Understanding means

understanding the culture of the target people
so that we can reconstruct our attitudes and
world views; consequently, we become more
tolerate and more generous toward strange
ways that may be shown by the target
language people.
 Also, the importance of understanding other
culture will avoid misunderstanding and make
inappropriate value judgements. Therefore, at
the end we are not considered that our culture
is better than other cultures.
 Culture refers to all aspect of life in
a community. It involves...
 ways of doing things
 ways of expressing themselves
 ways of looking at thing
 what things they should value
 what is expected from and what
they may expect from others.
 Tomasouw (1986) distinguish culture and
civilization.
 Civilization refers to areas such as
geography, history, artistic, and literacy
achievement.
 While culture is something to do with
everyday life style of ordinary citizens and
the values belief and prejudice they share
with their fellow within their linguistic and
social groups with due attention to intra-
group differences (of social class for
example).
 Larson & Immaley in Tomasouw (1986) define
culture as a ‘blue print’, which guides the
behaviour of people in community and then
is developed in family life.
 Chaer and Agustine (1995) suggest that
culture consists of standards for deciding
what is, standards for deciding what can be,
standards for deciding how one feels about
it, standards for deciding what to do about
it, and standards for deciding how to go
doing it.
 Goodenough in Wardhaugh (1986) believe
that culture consists of whatever it is one has
to know or believe in order to operate in a
manner acceptable to its members, and to
do so in any role that they accept for any
one of themselves.
 WHY STUDYING CCU?
 Lacking of cultural knowledge contributes to
improper use of the language.
 One’s cultural factors may cause someone
seem intolerant and less generous to other
cultures.
 The need for interpreting behaviour,
attitudes and communication style of people
from different cultures correctly.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
 Culture has certain characteristics – learned,
transmitted through generations, symbolic and
changeable over time.
 Culture is Ethnocentric; and has both visible
and invisible attributes
 Cultural Perspectives: Emic vs etic
 Need to be culturally aware in order to be able
to interpret someone’s behaviour relative to its
cultural context.
CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE

 Accept that your own perceptions are coloured

by your own culture
 Empathise with the views of others
 Actively try to understand other cultures and
cultural complexity
 Be open-minded – don’t stereotype
Barriers to cross cultural
communication
Lack of cultural understanding
Ethnocentrism
Nonverbal misinterpretation
Ways to improve cross cultural
communication
Know yourself and your culture
Know your audience
Be open to new ideas and appreciate
cultural differences
Build trust through interactions
Avoid using difficult idioms
Pay attention to body language
Be a learner
Tips for Effective Cross
Cultural Communication
Slow down and speak clearly
Listen actively without interrupting
the other party
Avoid misunderstandings and misinterpretations
Show respect for each other
Conclusion
Cross cultural communication can be effective when people
are sensitive to different cultural backgrounds
 CASE EXAMPLES
 Dog represents something good in western
culture.
 Western culture highly value of time -
punctuality, e.g. ‘Time is money’, while it is
not a case in Indonesia.
 Some people use their subjective mood when
in contact with foreigners, e.g. using
metaphors when talking to foreigners which
easily can lead to misunderstanding. In
Indonesia, the words said can mean the
opposite/ negative since the people also
communicate with their body languages or
gestures. (Saying ‘Mari makan’ means ‘let me
eat my food’, it does not mean asking other
people to share my food).
 In this country, the common subjects used
when talking with foreigners are about
family, jobs or careers, purposes of coming
to Indonesia, and so on. This may sound
interfere other people’s privacy in other
cultures.
 In this country, people think it is okay to
touch foreign child’s head to show concern.
This may consider impolite to other cultures.
While it shows a impropriate behaviour to
touch an adult’s head in this country
(offending), while it is a very common to do
so in Western cultures.
 In this country, the people will not open
present until they get guest leave; while it
shows disliking of the gifts to foreigners.
 Standing too close to foreigners is
considered improper behaviour in Indonesia.
 When greeting people, the Indonesian people
will answer “Would you like some coffee?”
with “Thank you”.
NO MAIN TOPICS SUPPLEMENTARY CONTENT
1 GREETING The proper way to initiate a conversation
2 INVITATION The different way of invitation between
Indonesia and English speaking countries
3 AT A SHOP Offering help and making suggestion
4 BORROWING Value system: borrow and lend
5 EDUCATION AND STUDENT Introduction to British/ American education
LIFE system
6 DESCRIBING PLACES Introduction of British/ American famous
places
7 TELLING A PLAN Value system: idea toward future
8 MAKING A TELEPHONE CALL Different custom of calling
9 SOLVING PROBLEM Introduction of British/ American social
problem
10 THE GLOBAL VILLAGE Introduction of science in British/ America
11 TALKING ABOUT OTHER West’s idea toward friendship
PEOPLE
12 TRAVELLING Introduction of famous Britain/ American cities
13 DESCRIBING PEOPLE Stereotype of British/ American people’s
character
14 GIVING OPINION Proper way of comment
15 TASTE AND PREFERENCE British/American’s tastes and preference
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME