Intercultural Communication Advantages and Disadvantages

Intercultural Communication

Implication

Intercultural communication is defined as situated communication between individuals or groups of different linguistic and cultural origins (Millar, n.d.). Communication is the active relationship established between people through language, and intercultural means that this communicative relationship is between people of different cultures, where culture is the structured manifestation of human behavior in social life within specific national and local contexts (Millar, n.d.). Hence, in this happens, if communication does not proceed smoothly or have some misunderstanding, people may tend to make implicit judgment that the other person does not know how to act appropriately or is not a good person (Matsumoto & Juang, 2007).

However, people from different society, cultures, and countries interact with each other in the exchange process (Yearwood, 2012). So, internationalization became an important for higher education in the new century (Yearwood, 2012). This is because people believe incorporating an intercultural into the teaching and other functions of the institution, then the entire environment of the institution shifts to that of an international one, whereby it is aligned with international protocols, and its national as well as international standards are strengthened (Yearwood, 2012). Besides that, people willing to open to the challenge, it can help to increasing interacting with those who may not share the same cultural and social norms (Mckeiver, 2013). Intercultural interactions provide benefits, but only if we are open to confronting the barriers that may hinder our success (Mckeiver, 2013). About this, some schools are more welcoming internationalization, because of the many benefits it offers them such as they are able to build their reputation as a world-renowned institution and recruit international students (Yearwood, 2012).

Advantages

Effective intercultural communication is vital to not only the establishment, but also the maintenance of positive intergroup relations (Yearwood, 2012). Thus, people must see themselves as possibly engaged in communication and capable of giving and receiving feedback (Yearwood, 2012). For example Muslims’ strong sense of community, spirituality and hospitality are oft cited qualities of virtue (Payne, 2006). Similarly Muslims worldwide regularly praise the West’s technological achievements, respect for equality before the law and queuing (Payne, 2006). Apart from that, both sides also share similar principles, ideas, and other (Payne, 2006).

Besides that, people are believed these factors to be critical to intercultural communication competence, it can increased cultural knowledge and awareness, communication skills, and tolerance for ambiguity (Yearwood, 2012). For example students who engage in intercultural interactions tend to experience gains in communication skills, the ability to empathize and openness to new ideas (Mckeiver, 2013). Moreover, intercultural interactions also increased individuals’ likelihood to challenge personal beliefs and embrace new perspectives and allows us opportunities to practice variations of our intercultural advising style in order to see what works is better for students (Mckeiver, 2013).

Disadvantages

However, intercultural communication may provide cons. Sometimes, international students experience feelings of uncertainty and anxiety about how to integrate into their host society (Yearwood, 2012). International students often question the deeds that prescribe social norms, in their host country and whether or not they are adhering to these norms (Yearwood, 2012). In regards to international students, all of these differences, between the host country and their country of origin, can result in incompatibility among students, intercultural conflicts, and social alienation (Yearwood, 2012). Furthermore, some findings suggest that some schools may express concerns about issues such as a student’s language ability, they tend to lack empathy for the life challenges students are experiencing, including their emotional and psychological well-being, but some schools did not consider their role in contributing to these behaviors, and instead blamed the students for lacking critical thinking skills and other negative things (Mckeiver, 2013).

Besides that, if it is the culture of the host country or dominant society to marginalize minority groups, then the minority groups will have less successful relationships and more conflicts in their interactions (Yearwood, 2012). For example, in an experiment, some American students’ reaction to international students is willing befriend with internationals students, while others will not (Yearwood, 2012). Moreover, research also found the domestic staff and students exhibited greater prejudice against international students by thinking of them as “sad, lonely and other negative words” (Mckeiver, 2013). The level of prejudice varies depending on the student’s home country (Mckeiver, 2013). So, when students lack confidence in their communication skills, or intenational students facing the experience of negative interactions with the host culture, international students may be unwilling to seek guidance when they need it (Mckeiver, 2013). So, it will provide cons of intercultural communication in international students.

Recommendation

Intercultural Communication refers to communication between people of different cultural background (Matsumoto & Juang, 2007). Its means people from another culture bring with own verbal language. Thus, if communication does not proceed smoothly or have some misunderstanding, people may tend to make implicit judgment that the other person does not know how to act appropriately or is not a good person (Matsumoto & Juang, 2007). Moreover, Intercultural Communication may provide benefit in society. For example, if people who willing to confronting the barriers of intercultural communicaton, it can help to increasing interacting with those who may not share the same cultural and social norms (Mckeiver, 2013). Besides that, it can also increase cultural knowledge and awareness, communication skills, and tolerance for ambiguity (Yearwood, 2012).

On the other hand, for international students, all of these differences, between the host country and their country of origin, can result in intercultural conflicts, and social alienation (Yearwood, 2012). Besides that, international students also more exhibited greater prejudice in the host country (Mckeiver, 2013).Therefore, improving the intercultural communication may be able to deal the cultural shock.

Experience different cultures regularly can improve the intercultural communication. About this, traveling is the best way to inspire curiosity about other cultures (Mcmahon, 2011). People visiting different kinds of restaurants can also exposure to different cultures (Mcmahon, 2011). Furthermore, join the social groups for international professionals or even attend plays, or watch movies that are from another culture also will increase the variety of cultures that people encounter in the daily life (Mcmahon, 2011).

Lastly, involvement of others also is one of the ways to improve the intercultural communication. People should be always ensuring that members from other cultural backgrounds are involved in daily communication in order to learn and understand each other’s cultures (Brown, 2013). For example, Working together with members of other cultures breeds an ease with them (Brown, 2013). This gives rise to a common ground to understanding each other, the way each person communicates and how they use non-verbal communication (Brown, 2013). Besides that, involvement of others helps the understanding of the context of usage of certain words and symbols and helps one to understand how different messages are interpreted by different communities (Brown, 2013).