Directions: Use the information in this chapter to support your answers to the following questions. 

1.  Discuss some of the reasons for difficulties in intercultural communication.

2.  Intercultural competence—What should an interculturally competent communicator do? 

3.  Explain the characteristics that an interculturally competent communicator must possess.



 

4.  Discuss the three methods of improving intercultural competence.








5.  Discuss how intercultural communication can be improved.


 

6.  Name the factors of the physical and human settings and explain how they influence intercultural communication.

7. Explain the 8 customs that an intercultural communicator needs to learn.
   • Seek to understand diverse message systems:
     
     
      
   • Develop empathy
     
     
      
   • Be aware of cultural differences in listening
     
     
      
   • Encourage feedback
     
     
      
   • Develop communication flexibility
     
     
      
   • Learn to tolerate ambiguity
     
     
      
   • Learn to manage conflict

• Causes of conflict:

• Culturally divergent attitudes toward conflict:
  US:
  Middle East:
  Greece:
  Japan/China:
  Europe:

• Learning about cultural adaptation:

• Dealing with conflict: INDIVIDUALIST vs. COLLECTIVIST
  
   

• Challenges during adaptation process:
  
   

• How to improve the adaptation process
  
  
   

8. Define cultural relativism.
   
   
    
9. Define universalism.
   
   
    
10.  List the 5 guidelines for an intercultural ethic.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
     
11.  Comment on the future of intercultural communication.
    • Future contacts:
    • Cultural diversity:
    • Intercultural problems:
    • Global culture:
    • Ethnic and cultural identity:

©2004  Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint Michael's College. Last updated: July 09, 2017