Post 148: Case Study of Intercultural Communication

Post 149: Case Study of Intercultural Communication


Intercultural Communication:  acknowledges the coexistence of multiple cultures in one single space. --one action occurring across several languages. If an individual can embody multiple cultures, then any interaction with that individual between 2 people can be deemed intercultural.  Intercultural communication means students of different backgrounds communicate with each other on a deep level. In a student-centered classroom, students of different backgrounds interact with each other as they do class projects, collaborative projects, engage in debates, peer edit each other's papers etc...When an international student interacts with another international student, that's when you have intercultural communication.

Like multicultural communication, intercultural communication has multiple nationalities in one place. But unlike multicultural communication, there is an actual exchange of ideas and learning between the people of two different cultures. Intercultural communication occurs when there is a deep exchange between people of two cultures. People get to know each other and get to learn about different cultures.  When I used to teach English as a Second Language, I used to teach ESL students from many different countries. I would spend class time talking to each student getting to know his/her culture. I didn't just correct my students' pronunciation or grammar mistakes as they learned English, but I really got to know them as people.  I remember a German student who hated the fact that Americans only associate Germany with Nazism.  I remember an Italian student who hated the fact that Americans stereotype all Italians as mobsters.  I had a Persian students who taught me how to each Persian rice in a Persian restaurant.  Intercultural communication is in a way the 'interaction with speakers of other languages on equal terms and respecting their identities