Effective Intercultural Communication and Political Correctness Anna Danylchuk

Effective Intercultural Communication and Political Correctness Anna Danylchuk

What is Intercultural Competence? How would/do you define culture – what would be your parameters?

Video “Intercultural Communication Adventure”

Mono-cultural Communication is based on similarities: common behaviour, language and values … based on roughly common definitions able to predict the behaviour of others assume a common perception of reality

Intercultural Communication is based on differences stereotypes and generalisations – based on respect for the other culture (positive stereotypes) can open the door to communication ? Based on disrespect (negative stereotype) sanctions and barriers to effective intercultural exchanges.

EU Context for ICC Economic Single integration Market 1993 Political integration Cultural integration

Individual Intercultural Competence is the Result of the motivation to communicate effectively with someone from a different culture; being prepared to learn the skills needed for effective communication; the ability to put this knowledge into use

Principles of ICC & PC The need to allow one's attitudes to be challenged by recognising that the other has the freedom and the right to be different, whatever one's own opinion is. Both partners in the exchange are experts of their respective cultures and should treat each other with mutual respect. The practitioner is responsible for the process. S/He has to enable the different experiences and viewpoints to be identified properly and related to the problem they are talking about. Being non-judgemental. Be aware of the fact that you are making an interpretation of what is being communicated and that you will never have the full picture

Attributes Needed to Establishing Effective and Meaningful Intercultural Communication Language Nonverbal behaviour Communication Values style and assumptions

EU Language Context The challenge of multilingualism High level of competence needed Diversity English exceeds capability as international language Communication language is more than

EU Language Context The problem of linguistic diversity in the EU (24 languages) The solution of language education If we are to derive more benefit from free movement within the single market, become more competitive in the knowledge economy and understand be more aware of each other within an enlarged EU, we Europeans must make an effort to learn languages. (Viviane Reding, European Commission, 2003) The Barcelona objective: 1 + 2 Mother tongue plus two other languages

EU: Foreign Language Studies & Intercultural Competences

Implications for Language Education Improve academic recognition of ICC Pose radical questions without imposing radical solutions Potential for innovative solutions Attractive to policy makers Connect with a range of pedagogical strategies Kahoot Survey “Developing Intercultural Competence”

Four Underlying ICC Assumptions 1. 2. 3. 4. The smaller the similarities between two cultures, the more problematic intercultural communication is. Intercultural interaction offers the possibility of social change arising from new ideas and insights that will not always be immediately apparent. Only if you operate as partners from different cultures action on an equal basis will be ensured. These plans for action will be more successful if a high degree of cultural awareness, i. e. of intercultural competence is available.

10 Fundamentals of Effective Intercultural Communication & Political Correctness detection of the own ethnocentrism dealing with things that appear strange laying the bases for tolerance accepting the ethnic differences talking about racism, xenophobia, sexism stressing things in common encouraging solidarity training of reasonable conflict-solving-techniques dealing with cultural conflicts and cultural relativism getting aware of the possibility to learn from each other and to enrich the life through the cultural contact getting rid of frontiers by understanding the global responsibility of everybody

Integration is the result of the tendency of the minority group to preserve their own cultural identity and to strive for positive relations to the dominant culture (example: Italians, Greeks, Portuguese). Ukraine?

Conclusions: Long-term ICC Aims Situate language learning in broader context Improve mutual understanding Promote respect for difference Develop capacity to enjoy diversity