-First Semester

Intercultural Communication
Module 3 Week 3

I. Introduction
Last week we learned that communication happens between or among two or more people. This
week we will discover Intercultural Communication which communication happens between people from
different culture. You will learn the different cultural perspectives, and how culture different from one
another. So, without further delay let’s study.

Are you ready? Let's start! But, first please

read our objectives.

II. Objective of the lesson

By the end of this module the learners should be able to:
a) Specific objectives:
1. Define Intercultural communication;
2. Develop appreciation for different cultural perspectives;
3. Demonstrate sensitivity to the socio-cultural dimension of communication situation with focus
on:
a. Culture
b. Gender
c. Age
d. Social status
e. Religion.
 2|Page

Remember! The pre-test is just a warm up to see

what you have already known at the beginning of the
lesson; it is builds for you to monitor your
improvement at the end of this module. So, don’t
worry about our pre-test. Try it!

III. Pre-test
Directions: Search the words on the box below, what country did use following words? Write your
answers on your paper.

1. Annyeong 4. Howzit
2. Bonjour 5. kumusta
3. Kon'nichiwa

Great! It’s seems like easy for you to answers our pre-
test. Remember, there are different languages in this
world, there are various ways how they communicate,
and you will encounter that as we go through in this
module. So, let’s move on the next page for our new
learning.

Lesson 3: Intercultural Communication

What comes into your mind when you hear or see the words Intercultural Communication?
According to Merriam Webster dictionary the word inter it means between: among: in the midst, while
culture can be defined as all the ways of life that are passed down from generation to generation, see the
picture below to know what are included in culture.

Oral communication
 3|Page

Intercultural Communication happens between or among other cultures. Let’s understand this
better by knowing the definition and nature.

Study Guide 1

Definition and Nature of Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication happens when individuals interact, negotiate, and create meanings while
bringing in their varied cultural backgrounds (Ting-Toomey, 1999).

For some scholars, intercultural communication pertains to communication among people from different
nationalities (Gudykunst, 2003). Still, others look at intercultural communication as communication that is influenced
by different ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations.

Both interpretations show that intercultural communication takes place when people draw from their
cultural identity to understand values, prejudices, language, attitudes, and relationships (Gudykunst & Kim, 2003).
Moreover, this facet of communication can also be seen as a bargained Understanding of human experiences across
diverse societies. Simply put, intercultural communication is the sending and receiving of messages across languages
and cultures.

Sometimes, intercultural communication can flow smoothly and become very interesting for a cross-cultural
group. However, things may not go as planned when communication is disrupted by cultural collisions.

When you speak, your speech is continuously accompanied by gestures, facial expressions and other body
movements that add to what you are saying in different ways. For example, nodding means "yes" in the Indian
subcontinent, Iran, most of Europe, Latin America, and North America. However, in Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine,
Turkey, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Albania, nodding indicates disagreement. Moreover, in the case of Japanese
culture, silence as a form of communication is more integrated in their customs than in Western languages. It is
therefore important for you to acknowledge and understand the many communication patterns present in other
cultures.

Oral communication
 4|Page

Now that you read the definition and nature of

intercultural communication, let’s see what
you have understood by doing the activity 1
below.

Directions: Based on what have you read find the words that would complete on the blanks.
1. Intercultural communication happens when individuals interact, negotiate, and create meanings
while bringing in their ___________.
2. It is important for you to acknowledge and understand the many _____________ present in
other cultures.
3. Intercultural communication is the sending and receiving of messages_______________.
4. Things may not go as planned when communication is disrupted by _____________.
5. ____________ takes place when people draw from their cultural identity to understand values,
prejudices, language, attitudes, and relationships.

After your activity, let’s continue learning. Read the study guide 2
below.

Study Guide 2

The Development Model of Intercultural Sensitivity

The Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) offers a structure that people experience
cultural differences. According to Bennett and Bennett it has six (6) stages. These are the following:

Stage 1: Denial. The individual does not recognize
cultural differences.
Stage 2: Defense. The individual starts to recognize
cultural differences and is intimidated by resulting in
Oral communication
People in Denial stage believe that they are better
than others.
People in the Defense stage do feel threatened by
“competing” cultures.
 5|Page
either a superior view on his/her own culture or an
unjustified high regard for the new one.
Stage 3: Minimization. Although individuals see People in the Minimization assume that all cultures
cultural differences, they bank more on the are fundamentally similar.
universality of ideas rather than on cultural
differences.
Stage 4: Acceptance. The individual begins to People in the Acceptance stage can be thought of as
appreciate important cultural differences in “Culture-neutral,” seeing differences as neither good
behaviors and eventually in values. nor bad, but rather as a fact of life.
Stage 5: Adaptation. The individual is very open to
People in the Adaptation stage consciously adapt
world views when accepting new perspectives. their behaviors to the different cultures norms of
their environment.
Stage 6: Integration. Individuals start to go People in the Integration stage accept that their
beyond their own cultures and see themselves identity is not base in any single culture.
and their actions based on multifarious cultural
viewpoints.

Now that you read the six (6) stages on DMIS, let’s see what you
have understood by doing the activity 2 below.

Directions: Analyze the picture below. Identify the stages that best describe on the following picture. Write
your answers on your paper.
Here are the choices:
a. Denial e. Adaptation
b. Defense. f. Integration
c. Minimization g. Intercultural communication
d. Acceptance

1. I am a role model of beauty 2. Our outfits are most comfortable than yours.

Oral communication
 6|Page

3. All people eat meat. 4. Our difference does not matter as long as we
respect each other.

5. I have to adjust my approach to consider both my 6. We can look at things from the viewpoints of
own and see others background. others.

Study Guide 3
Characteristics of Competent Intercultural Communicators
World Bank (2010) identifies the following traits that define a competent intercultural communicator.

1. Flexibility and the ability to tolerate high levels of uncertainty

2. Reflectiveness or mindfulness
3. Open-mindedness
4. Sensitivity
5. Adaptability
6. Ability to engage in divergent thinking (or thinking creatively) and systems-level thinking (or
thinking how each one in a system or organization influences each other)
7. Politeness

Note that in addition to culture, other elements such as gender, age, social status, and religion must
also be taken into consideration when communicating with others. Refrain from showing a bias when
talking to someone by following the tips below.

1. Avoid stereotypes, (i.e., generalizations about a certain group.)

2. Challenge gender norms; avoid using "he" and "man" to refer to a general group of
people. To remedy this, you may use plural pronouns or rewrite a sentence to avoid using
pronouns. The use of his/her is also acceptable.
3. Do not talk down on younger people and the elderly.

Oral communication
 7|Page
4. be sensitive to the religious practices of others.
5. be polite at all times; do not belittle people you perceive to be on a lower social class than
you.

Now that you know the importance of Characteristic of

competent intercultural communicators, try to apply what
you have learned by performing our activity 3 below.

The following jumble words are the traits that a competent intercultural communicator has. Arrange the
jumble words to identify the traits. Write your answers on your paper.
1. pessteettyor iodav -
2. bidapatalyti -
3. siteyeniitv -
4. nope nessdedmin -
5. fulmessnind –
6. litepo -
7. tyliflexibi –

Now, you are nearly to finish this module, let’s do

the last activity our assessment. Good luck!!!

Assessment
A. Directions: write true if the statement is correct and false if not.
_______ 1. Intercultural communication occurs when there is interaction and negotiation between or
among individuals from different cultural backgrounds.
_______ 2. Intercultural communication refers only to communication that happens between or
among individuals from different nations.

Oral communication
 8|Page
_______ 3. Communication that exists between or among individuals from different ethic, religious,
and regional backgrounds and sexual orientations is not considered as intercultural.
_______ 4. The DMIS by Bennett and Bennett (2004) can be used to understand those who do not
recognize other cultures and cannot communicate intercultural.
_______ 5. The denial stage could be interpreted as distrust towards other cultures.
_______ 6. The acceptance stage refers to recognition of cultural differences.
_______ 7. In the adaptation stage, individual begin to integrate with other culture.
_______ 8. Cultural sensitivity matters intercultural communication.
_______ 9. One character traits of a competent communicator is sensitivity to nonverbal cues in other
cultures.
_______ 10. A competent communicator is a person who is effective in intercultural communication.
B. Directions: Write your reflection about Intercultural Communication; make a two (2) column on the
left side write what you learn in intercultural communication, while on the right side write what you
will adapt on the Characteristics of Competent Intercultural Communicators. Write your answers on
your papers. (20 points)
What I’ve learned in intercultural communication: I will adapt on the characteristics of competent
Intercultural Communicators:

Congratulations! You have successfully completed this module.

Give yourself a time to relax. See you next week.

References:
P. J. F. Sipacio., A. R. G. Balgos 2019 “Oral Communication in Context" Revised edition. C & E Publishing, Inc http://clipart-library.com/clipart/783272.htm
wiz-img&ei=JSkEY_W7FKygr7wP1taS2As&bih=766&biw=534&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&prmd=ivn#imgrc=M-0RKxNp-hbKuM
https://www.google.com/search?q=appearance+nonverbal+communication&client=ms-android-samsung-
ss&prmd=ivn&sxsrf=ALiCzsZ5V4hvbFeaEU2QbemOacpG-
C_inA:1661217390608&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjcydiD5dv5AhUvRmwGHQWEBnIQ_AUoAXoECAIQAQ&biw=534&bih=766&dpr=1.5#imgrc=
kwuPgzHnFQs5ZM&imgdii=_Dj7j0ki03ec4M
https://www.merriam-webster.com ›

Oral communication