Intercultural communication

What is culture? Why do you need to learn the rules and traditions of different countries? What can hinder communication with people from other cultures? In the first lesson of the course, you’ll learn all these details and begin to dive into intercultural communication specifics.

In addition, you’ll find out what other factors influence communication with people from other cultures. You’ll also take a test on intercultural communication competency.

Every culture has its own values and priorities system. What is truly important to a culture, and how can you use this information to communicate effectively? This lesson provides all the details!

Additionally, you’ll be able to get a closer look at the indirect communication style in other cultures. You’ll also study comparative tables of collectivism vs. individualism, high and low power distance as well as high and low uncertainty avoidance.

You are already familiar with three of the six dimensions which enable us to better understand a culture. In this lesson, we’ll explore the remaining three: attitude toward time, masculinity, and indulgence.

Additionally, you’ll become familiar with such definitions as monochronic and polychronic cultures and analyze various country-specific indicators. You’ll also study comparative tables on attitudes toward time, femininity and masculinity, and indulgence.

In the previous lessons, you learned about the various cultural dimensions that can define a particular culture. Knowledge of these dimensions is a great intercultural communication tool, and it will multiply if you have enhanced cultural awareness. In this lesson, you’ll begin to build it. You’ll learn how to develop cultural awareness, to get rid of stereotypes, and to become more flexible and open-minded.

Additionally, you’ll learn how to develop empathy and create your personal cultural portrait. You’ll also analyze your attitude to various cultures and grasp how to make it more flexible and objective.

You’ve already learned how to treat other cultures with greater understanding, to develop cultural awareness and to remain open-minded. After all, without all this, it is impossible to communicate effectively with people from other countries. However, two other things can be barriers to interaction, namely, verbal and non-verbal forms of communication. In this lesson, you’ll find out how they manifest themselves and how to use them properly in communication.

The supplementary materials will help you to better prepare for nonverbal communication.

You have studied cultural dimensions; you know how to develop cultural awareness and to use verbal and nonverbal language in intercultural communication. The final lesson of this course offers several tips to improve the skills you have learned and to help you prepare for communication.

Additionally, you’ll get a handout on relaxation breathing techniques and you’ll set 10 rules of your own for effective intercultural communication. You’ll also learn to analyze how successful your communication was in order to avoid mistakes in the future.