Paper Example on Intercultural Communication: How Far I Have Come

To what extent do you feel your intercultural communication skills have improved since the beginning of the course? How do you know this?

They have improved a great deal. From this course, there is a lot that one has had to learn. First, the class made me appreciate that there is a problem in communication stemming from cultural differences. It is always argued that whenever people accept there is a mess, they can easily resolve to solve it. To improve intercultural communication, one must be ready to overcome the barriers attached to the same. Some of the obstacles that affected me personally included presumption of similarities rather than differences, language problems, and stereotypes. Some are easy to overcome, whereas I have found some really difficult to deal with completely. Language problems can persist for a long time, as it is not easy to learn a new language. It requires both interest and passion.

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My intercultural skills have improved because two things are certain; my presumption of similarities and acceptance of stereotypes have entirely changed. I value the differences and never use them anymore to judge people. I struggle in conversations with people from different cultures other than avoiding them altogether. I have encountered people with heavy ascents and enjoy it because no one is perfect in the eyes and ears of the other culture. Our differences make us stronger as a society, and we can never be all the same. The sooner one accepts the differences, the easier it is to improve intercultural communication, and in a shorter period.

What particular aspects of the course have contributed to this development?

This course has been quite broad. It has dug deep and wide to cover different areas of intercultural communication. It has shed light on the importance of people appreciating different cultures and engaging without prejudice with people from different cultural backgrounds. Interestingly, there are areas I never thought could be triggers of culture-based miscommunication covered in the course. These areas provided a good starting point to rethink my communication style.

First, culture and gender would never have been a consideration for me as a case of intercultural communication. I believed that males and females communicate with ease until this course opened me up to the enormous possibilities of miscommunication based on gender culture. Every day, one interacts with people of the opposite gender, and it is difficult to imagine that one may miss a step in communication with such a person. However, this course had a different scope and context to it than my presumptions. Through this course, communication with the opposite gender has been made more comfortable and more satisfying than ever before.

Another important area covered in the course that has helped in the improvement of my intercultural communication is religion and identity. One thing I have learned is that there are so many misconceptions arising from religion and identity. People across different religions distaste the beliefs and acts of those in others, which results in great communication challenges. However, one can overcome the religion-based stereotypes and take it as a person-to-person conversation. If one can successfully avoid the imaginations and presumptions of religion, they have a better chance of having effective communication.

Finally, in this development, understanding the national dimensions of culture helps one build a broad perspective about people. In return, it changes the perspectives and expectations that one can hold in a conversation with people from different countries of origin. Therefore, it becomes easier to seamlessly adjust conversations and communication with such people, and effectively pass a message or decode one received from them. It is always important to remember that the secret is rising above the barriers.

Which other factors outside the course (e.g., friends, traveling, media, etc.) have also affected this development? State which ones and explain their effect.

Improvement of communication cannot be centered on one area. Further, it cannot be focused on theoretical work only. Experiences outside the class setting play a significant role in the improvement. As such, I have had my fair share of such encounters. Family, friends, and the media have had their fair share of a role in the development. The family has played the primary purpose. Siblings and cousins are a mix of males and females. To practice gender-based intercultural communication, it had to start with them. I practiced what I learned in theory through them, and the impressive outcomes me the impetus to take it a step further. Thus, their contribution cannot be ignored. From family, my next stop was to learn from and practice with my pool of friends.

I have friends from different nationalities and cultures, which gave me just the right balance to practice intercultural communication. In the past, I found it hard to relate to my friends’ friends from different cultures. However, we have had a great bonding time as I progressed with this class. It has become easier to bond with them and learn their ways. The media has also played a significant role. It is not until recently that I could tell CNN and Al-Jazeera have substantial differences in their reporting and television schedules. The intercultural differences are apparent, and the media helps one understand them better. The same story could be reported in very different words and in a very different tone across the various media houses, just to fit within the cultural demands of the target audience. If corporates appreciate the cultural differences and play their part, it is also essential for individuals to play their roles. The world is a better place when people enjoy each other’s culture and accord it respect.