Effective Cross-Cultural Communication Tips

Melanie ManaresKansas State Department of

Education

Before you begin…

Learn how to pronounce the person’s name and how to address him/her

Learn about appropriate eye or physical contact

Be aware of inappropriate gestures

Avoid taboo subjects

Know some basic words and phrases

When there is no interpreter…(yet)

Speak slowlyUse short sentencesTalk about one thing at a timeUse the active voiceAvoid idioms and jargonAvoid vague modifiersUse positive phrasingLimit the use of contractions

Most importantly…

Be patient

Listen carefully and attentively

Reassure attempts at English

Gently encourage practicing English

Don’t leave out the interpreter!

Recipients of federal funds are to obtain interpreter services for limited English proficient persons.

Go to www.lep.gov for more information.

Using an interpreter…

NO

MINOR CHILDREN

Using an interpreter…

Customers should not be told to provide an interpreter

Be sure that the interpreter is fully bilingual and familiar with both cultures

Ensure that the interpreter is knowledgeable about the subject

Using an interpreter…

Conduct a pre-conference

Use proper seating arrangement

Speak to the client, not to the interpreter

Different Types of Cultures…

• Less formal

address• Authority? Whose

authority?• Youth and beauty

are valued• Clock• Task• Independence

• More formal address

• Deeper respect for authority

• Age and wisdom are valued

• What clock?• Relationship• Interdependence

Norms are not the norm

Linear

Direct/explicit

Yes means yes

Being up front

Smile means friendly, warm and inviting

Punctual

Name is my own

Animals make great pets

Round about

Indirect/implicit

Yes means not no

Saving face

Smile means not serious, flaky, inviting

Pushy

Name is my family’s

Animals are dirty and should be left outside

Snack or Sick? Morsel or Immoral?

Would you change your diet if you lived somewhere where it was the norm, or a necessity, or your only sustenance? – How much would you change? Are rats to be revered or reviled? Are pigs delicious or disgusting? Are cows sacred or supper? Are dandelions a wine or a weed?

What’s appropriate?

Shake hands

Look someone in the eye

Bring flowers when you visit someone in the hospital

Wear white to a funeral

Clap in church or express yourself vocally during the service

Is it strange to…?

Give someone a birthday gift

Take your shoes off when you enter someone’s home

Kiss someone hello

Take food to a grieving family

Use physical force as a means of discipline

Is it uncomfortable to…?

Wash your feet before you enter a place of worship

Accept food someone offers but not eat it

Give your shoes or jewelry to someone who admires them

Understand …

that people naturally bring their own norms to the table. They operate under the rules they know to be correct.

that someone’s odd behavior may be odd only to you. They may find your reaction to their normal behavior equally odd.

Misunderstandings occur when…

people employ different rules or different norms to a shared

situation.

Trouble begins when…

people think that their way is the only way or is the way that makes the most sense, and they refuse to look at the situation differently

or from another perspective.

Solutions happen when people…

have more possibilities in mind

have more willing acceptance of new or different ideas

have positive experiences to rely on

compromise, bend, learn, ask, give, and take.

Send questions, comments, and requests for information to:

Melanie Manares

(785) 296-7929

mmanares@ksde.org