Tutorial 2 – Culture and Communication

Psychology of Communication

Ex 1: 'Exploring Communication Approaches'

1. Read each of the following pairs of descriptions.
2. Decide which descriptions is more like your country, A or B.
3. Think of another culture or country of interest to you. Does it come closer to type A or
type B?
4. Choose one or two statement pairs that interest you. Can you think of any
misunderstandings that might arise when people from cultures more like A, communicate
with people from cultures more like B?

1. In some countries, people tend to talk In other countries, people tend to talk
quite quickly, frequently interrupting in a slow and considered way, rarely
others in order to get their ideas interrupting other people when they
across. are talking.
V
2. In some countries, people tend to talk In other countries, people tend to be
quite loudly and are not particularly more soft-spoken, and take care to
concerned if people they do not know ensure that they do not talk so loudly
overhear their conversations. that other people can hear their
V conversations.
3. In some countries, people use many In other countries, people do not
physical gestures (such as smiling a often use many physical gestures
lot, waving their arms or banging the (such as smiling a lot, waving their
table) to emphasize what they are arms or banging the table). Instead,
saying and to communicate important they use words and their tone of
ideas and feelings. voice to communicate important
V ideas and information.
4. In some countries, demonstrating In other countries, demonstrating
interest in what other people have to respect for other people means trying
say means maintaining good eye to avoid too much direct or close eye
contact with them when they are contact while they are speaking. V
talking.
5. In some countries, even people who do In other countries, people are taught
not know each other very well will not to touch other people they do not
hold hands, embrace, place their arms know, and will try to avoid physical
around each other's shoulders, or touch contact with strangers wherever
each other on the arms. possible. V
6. In some countries, when people talk to In other countries, when people talk
 each other they stand or sit a to each other than stand or sit very
considerable distance apart, sometimes close to each other - sometimes so
as much as 50 cm. close that they are almost touching
the other person. V
7. In some countries, people are direct In other countries, people are less
and frank in the way they speak. They direct in the way they speak. They
will give their personal opinions will often avoid giving their personal
freely, regardless of whom they are opinions unless they know the people
talking to, and will often criticize other they are talking to well, and will try
people directly if necessary. to avoid saying things that might
come across as too critical of others.
V
8. In some countries, people write e- In other countries, people sometimes
mails or faxes that are as short, direct write e-mails or faxes in a less direct
and factual as possible. They pose and wordier way. They often don't
questions directly and ask for feel the need to spell out precisely
information in an explicit and and unambiguously the information
unambiguous way. they require. V
9. In some countries, people often prefer In other countries, people often prefer
to use e-mails, faxes, letters or other to use face-to-face discussions,
forms of written communication to telephone calls or other forms of
pass on important information and spoken communication to pass on
make sure they get the response they important information and make sure
want. they get the response they want. V
10. In some countries, learning foreign In other countries, learning foreign
languages (particularly English) forms languages is not an important part of
a big part of the educational the educational curriculum. People
curriculum. People from these from these countries often do not
countries often speak other languages speak other languages very well.
very well. V
11. In some countries, people are happy to In other countries, people prefer to
talk about their personal and family keep their private life and their work
life with their colleagues at work. life separate. They do not tend to ask
They are also inclined to ask other questions or talk about personal and
people questions about their private family life at work, unless it is with
and family life, even if they do not close colleagues who they know well.
know them very well. V
12. In some countries, people like to make In other countries, people like to get
'small talk' (that is, talk about the straight into business without
weather, football, politics) before they bothering with too much 'small talk'
 start talking about business. V (that is, talk about the weather,
football, politics).
13. In some countries, people are happy to In other countries, people feel
talk about their accomplishments uncomfortable talking about what
without embarrassment or shame. they have accomplished. They think
They think it is polite and honest to it is polite and courteous to keep
describe what they have achieved in quiet about their attainments.
their lives.
V
14. In some countries, people will try to In other countries, people feel
remain as reasonable, rational and comfortable following their feelings
dispassionate as possible during and intuition during business
business discussions and discussions and conversations. They
conversations. They believe that the believe that the best way to get their
best way to remain objective is to message across is to talk with passion
argue based on facts and talk from the and conviction, even if this
head, not from the heart. sometimes comes across as being
emotional. V
15. In some countries, people are happy In other countries, people think work
cracking jokes and telling funny is a serious place to be and try to
stories at work or in business avoid making jokes or telling funny
situations, even with people they do stories unless they know the other
not know very well. V person very well.
16. In some countries, people tend to In other countries, people tend to use
communicate in an informal way, formal titles (like Mr or Mrs, Doctor,
using first names at work or when Engineer, Architect) at work, or when
dealing with customers and dealing with customers and
colleagues. People rarely use formal colleagues, people tend to use first
titles (like Mr or Mrs, Doctor, names mainly with family and close
Engineer, Architect). V friends.

3. Japan culture closer to type B

Ex 2: Gestures around the World

Use pictures to demonstrate 3 common gesture. Exploring their meanings in different
cultures.
For example: Thumbs up, OK sign….

Ex 3: What Do They Need to Know About Us?

Prepare a briefing for someone who is about to spend some time in your country. Use the
table below as a guide to the content.
Background
 Geography and topography
 History
 Economic system
 Business and commerce
 Political structures
 Media and broadcasting
 Language(s)

Society
 Current political situation
 Legal system
 Religious influences
 Regional differences
 Social and community life
 Ethnic minorities
 Gender issues
 Education system
 Heroes and myths
 Private / work life overlap

Traditions and customs

 Communication styles
 Greetings
 Gestures
 Levels of formality
 Holidays and festivals
 Taboos
 Gift-giving

Daily life
 Shopping
 Entertaining
 Food and Eating out
 Getting around
 Climate
 Healthcare
 Housing
 Security
Business Etiquette
 Business relationships
 Approaches to work
 Approaches to leadership and teams
 Management styles
 Formal and informal meetings and discussions
 Negotiations and presentations