BICOL UNIVERSITY POLANGUI CAMPUS

Polangui, Albay

PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION - MODULE 4

COMMUNICATION AIDS AND STRATEGIES

USING TOOLS OF TECHNOLOGY
We now live in a world where communicating to different kinds of people from different
places has become possible in just a click of button. Technology, specifically your access to the
internet, has allowed you to connect to individuals or groups who are miles away from you. Such
power in your hands also entails great responsibility. You are responsible in understanding and
learning more about the cultural differences between and among cultures in order for you to
communicate effectively to anyone regardless of his or her culture or social background.
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. adopt awareness of your audience and context when you communicate with others;
familiarize yourselfwith the different technological/ online tools which can facilitate
effective communication; and
3. list down common cross-cultural communication barriers and communication strategies
that can overcome these barriers. ii

Activity 1: What I Know

Your generation has always been labeled as the "digital natives"—individuals who were
born and raised in a world of gadgets, computers and the internet. Now, you will be tested if you
are truly a digital native. Below is a list of technological tools that can be used in
communication. For each listed, provide a sample for each online communication tool and its
benefits and disadvantages as a communication tool.
Online Sample Site/App/ Benefits in
Communication Tool Software Communication
videoconferencing It’s very efficient, Problematic
it’s more engaging technology and
than audio absence of personal
conferencing and etc. connection
e.g., Google Hangout
chats Real-time Over the web, you
communication, actually never realize
automatic reporting who is on the opposite
features and etc. end – particularly in
the event that you are
conversing with
somebody you don't as
e.g., WhatsApp &
of now have a clue
WeChat
forums e.g., phpBB & MyBB Improve Occupied online
communication, conversation
better engagement gatherings may cause
and etc. data over-burden

Voice over IP e.g., ZoiPer & 8*8 Lower costs, Reliable Internet
increased Connection Required
accessibility and etc.

email e.g., Outlook & Gmail conveyed amazingly Messages conveyed

quick when can contain viruses
contrasted with
conventional post
 Activity 2: It Makes Sense
Impressive work in Activity l ! As digital natives who now have the power to reach other people
from faraway places, you are now challenged to know more about others when you communicate with
them. Individuals from different backgrounds and cultures have distinct differences in communicating
with others. Though English is, most of the time, used as a language of international, cross-cultural
communication, there are still notable disparities in the communication styles across cultures. One of
which is the difference in communicating nonverbally in high-context and low-context cultures. The
figure below shows the high context and low context continuum and the selected countries/ regions and
their places in the continuum.

CONTEXT VS. LOW CONTEXT CONTINUUM

High-context cultures are highly dependent on nonverbal communication and the context in which the
communication is taking place. In contrast, low-context cultures are characterized heavily by verbal
communication and the communication tends to be more direct in style.

Your Test – determine whether the statement is LCC for Low Context and HCC for High Context
Cultures.

1. You need to be accurate at all times. Accuracy is very important in this culture. HCC
2. When conversing, you are expected to speak only after your interlocutor is done talking. Turn-taking
is highly valued. LCC
3. You do not directly disagree because disagreements appear as personal threats. You need to resolve
the conflict immediately or avoid it completely. HCC
4. Verbal messages are explicit and direct. What you say is more important than the context when or
where you said it. LCC
5. You beat around the bush. Some call it you sugar-coating your real message because verbal
messages, especially bad news, should be delivered indirectly. HCC
6. You use words all the time because they are highly valued in this culture. LCC
7. Communication tends to be linear, dramatic, precise and open. LCC
8. Disagreements are not taken personally. In work for example, disagreements do not need to be
resolved immediately for work to continue. Solutions are based on rational decisions. HCC
9. Physical space is considered more communal. Standing very close to others is a common practice.
HCC
10. Efficiency is very important. The speed you complete a particular work is very important. HCC

3: We'll Figure It Out

In the previous activity that people have diverse backgrounds thus require of communicating
with them. In this activity, you will have to create a list of barriers and communication strategies
that can be used to overcome these before you work as a class, answer first the questions
below on your own.
1. Did you ever have an opportunity to interact with people coming from different backgrounds using
online communication tools like chat or videoconferencing? Briefly describe your experience.
- Yes, I have. When we were in Cebu to study (2018), there are only two languages that they
spoke, which is Bisaya and English and when they are talking about school updates in our group
chats, they only use Bisaya and I don’t understand it at all. I tried telling them to speak in English
but they said they aren’t used to talking in English in chat so I just copy their messages and paste
them to “Bisaya to English” translator so I can understand them sometimes (because translators
aren’t always accurate) and also for my own sake, I studied Bisaya so I can understand them
without the help of that translator.

2. What did you learn from your interaction?

- I learned that before you go to a new place where there is a different culture, especially language,
I recommend you to study their culture beforehand so you don’t have to worry about offending
them unintentionally or them making fun of you when you make a mistake like mispronouncing a
word in their language.
3. What were the challenges that you encountered when conveying your message?
- Of course, the pronunciation and the way you say it is a bit of a challenge to me because one
mistake you make, as I’ve said earlier, you might offend them or they might make fun out of you.

4. How did the online communication tool help you convey your message?
- It helps me convey my message because I am grateful some of my classmates are thoughtful and
patient enough to help me understand their language by answering all of my questions regarding
their culture.

5. What specific strategies did you use to make sure that your communication succeeds?
- I’ve been very careful of the choice of my words and actions so the possibility of offending them
is little.

Once done, choose a class' facilitator. S/he will facilitate the discussion for the class to come up
with a list of communication barriers commonly encountered in cross-cultural communication and the
strategies that you can use to overcome these barriers.

Activity 4: I Can Do It!

At this point, you have understood the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness
in communicating with others successfully. Successful communication across cultures
heavily relies on your ability not only to recognize the differences that exist between and
among cultures, but also on your ability to identify your common ground or shared
understanding.

For your last activity:

1) you are tasked to find one viral post about a social issue from the internet and
look for a comment or two regardless of social background (e.g., data privacy).
Complete the organizer below that may be similar or dissimilar to your view. Your
challenge is to make sure that you construct your comment in a way that you
recognize and respect the opinion of the person you are giving a comment to and
politely state your stand about the issue.
 2) Digital Portfolio: Upload a screenshot of the viral post and the comment that you
have given. Include in your portfolio your, answer to the last question where you
are asked to compare and contrast your comments.

- Justice have been an issue lately in the internet, mainly in the Philippines. I’ve
watched a lot of it lately also so the social issue I’ve chosen is the issue about
the law being manipulated by power and money and the poor and powerless
citizens of our beloved country is not being given proper justice.

If you are to post a comment of In the post, find two or three

Justice must be equally given to
everyone because it is not
something you can buy, but it is
something you obtain and
maintain to make a country more
peaceful and united. But what is
happening in the Philippines right
now? Filipinos killing other fellow
Filipinos? For what? For power
and money? What General Luna
said is true then, “Time will come,
Filipinos will kill other fellow
Filipinos.”
- “That Police Officer though.
It would be a pain in the
head if I lived in Philippines.
Thank God I’m In California.
Oh shoot! They’re the same
here LOL.”
- “I would’ve kept silent if I
were that old woman. It
would’ve been a better
situation but still, a murder
is murder, the PO still shot
them.”

Compare and contrast your comment from the comments of non-Filipinos? What
accounts for the differences and similarities? (10 points)

- I observed all of the foreign comments in the issue and realized that most
pf them don’t take it seriously that much, unlike us Filipinos, because it’s
obvious, it’s not their country but some of them has some points that really
matter in the situation. On the other hand, of course Filipinos became
outrageous as soon as they’ve known about this. Some says there would be
chaos all around the country if they didn’t give proper justice and that
would be possible because of this very toxic and corrupt government
system in the Philippines. I just hope peace and unity for our country. I
conclude that despite of the differences in cultures, some would really
genuinely have a support or concern about us. In just a simple comment in
social media, it means a lot to us that’s why high technology these days
have been a huge impact in the society.
Reflection:
1.Why do you need to be culturally sensitive?
- Cultural sensitivity is significant because of the fact that it allows us to
adequately function in different societies, allows us to have the ability
to respect value different societies, as well as can lessen social
barriers and obstructions among experts and non-professionals.

2.How these traits contribute to your pursuits of becoming a productive

and responsible citizen of the country?
- One of the best ways to become a productive and responsible citizen
of the country is having the ability to understand the differences as
well as respecting each and every one of it for the reason that a in
union, there is strength and there is no better thing than having peace
and unity in a certain country.

3.How will these promote change in the society?

- Of course, this will have a huge impact in the society because
imagine all of the members of the society is having the ability to be
culturally sensitive, it would be greater than fantastic. No
discrimination and judging other people, just good vibes and pure
respect from each other. Peace and unity start from one person to
another and as I’ve said earlier, In union, there is strength and that
strength is the thing that all of us will probably need in case of
emergency in the future.