UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA BUCUREȘTI

FILS – DLMC- FACULTATEA DE AUTOMATICĂ ȘI CALCULATOARE

SEMINAR LIMBA ENGLEZĂ – SEMESTRUL II

UNIT 1 – SEMINAR 1(2)

BUILDING PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS A CROSS CULTURES
LECTOR DR. MARIA ALEXE
UNIT 1 – PART 1

TERMINOLOGY
(similarities and differences)
AGENDA FOR SEMINAR

• Terminology
• Related words and phrases
• Why is important to be aware of multicultural differences and cross cultural skills
• Best practices/ wrong practices
• References
• Debate
 TERMINOLOGY (1) MULTICULTURAL

• the first known use of the word was in 1935

 relating to, reflecting, or adapted to: diverse cultures, society, education

Ex multicultural educational system, multicultural menu
• Including  people  who have many different customs and beliefs
• relating to a number of different cultures, esp. to the traditions of people of different religions and races
EX: Using extensive classroom observations and interviews, the study provides portraits of these three teachers' working with
multilingual, multicultural, and multilevel students
• Refers to a society that contains several cultural or ethnic groups.  People live alongside one another, but each cultural group
does not necessarily have engaging interactions with each other.  For example, in a multicultural neighborhood people may
frequent ethnic grocery stores and restaurants without really interacting with their neighbors from other countries.
TERMINOLOGY (2) – CROSS CULTURAL

• Cross cultural – first known use circa 1942, (in the meaning defined bellow)
• dealing with or offering comparison between two or more different cultures or cultural
areas
• In cross-cultural communication, differences are understood and acknowledged, and
can bring about individual change, but not collective transformations.
TERMINOLOGY (3) INTERCULTURAL

• pertaining to or taking place between two or more cultures

• The term was first recorded in 1935–40; inter- + cultural
• Intercultural communication is a symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual process,
in which people from different cultures create shared meanings. (Lustig & Koester,
2007:46) Intercultural communication refers to the effects on communication behavior,
when different cultures interact together.
 RELATED TOPICS, WORDS AND PHRASES
A. MULTICULTURALISM/MULTICULTURALITY

• AMERICANIZATION - the process of becoming more like the US or more like the people or culture of the US:
• Examples: In the business world, at least, globalization has meant Americanization.
• Both the right and the left talk about Americanization and cultural homogenization.

• BEE LIKE SHEEP - If a group of people are (like) sheep, they all behave in the same way or all behave as
they are told, and cannot or will not act independently.
• DUTIFULLY - in a way that show that you want to obey and do everything that you are expected to do :
• ADHERENCE - the fact of someone behaving exactly, according to rules, beliefs.
Differences between:
- intercultural and cross cultural
- intercultural and multicultural

• In cross-cultural societies, one culture is often considered “the norm” and all other
cultures are compared or contrasted to the dominant culture. 
• Intercultural describes communities in which there is a deep understanding and respect
for all cultures.
• Can you give examples?
• Multicultural societies are characterized by people of
different races, ethnicities, and nationalities living
together in the same community. In multicultural
communities, people retain, pass down, celebrate, and
share their unique cultural ways of life, languages, art,
traditions, and behaviors.
MULTICULTURAL
ATTITUDE

Greetings
Language patterns

Body language
Read the text, then decide if you agree/disagree with the following
statements
• In today’s multicultural world, it is more than likely that your office will employ individuals with unique
backgrounds that may be foreign to the place the business is situated. The company may have a senior vice
president who is Greek, a college intern from South Korea and an accounting clerk whose family originates
from El Salvador. Heck, there might be a quality control supervisor who is eighth-generation American or
British – that is also rare in the modern-day environment.
•  Because diversity is becoming more prevalent around the world, it is important to be culturally aware and
sensitive, though the latter might be a bit harder to adopt. Cultural awareness is simply being aware of the
many different cultures around you, whether it is in the workplace or at school. 
• Employees coming from various cultures can contribute with a wider range of perspectives on an assignment.
A mix of cultural experiences helps in problem-solving, and can create a strong team. Having a diverse group
of workers always enriches the office environment, improving the work culture.
There are many nations that can be called multicultural societies. Can you make list/ give some
examples?
CROSS CULTURAL SKILLS

• Cross-cultural communication might be one of the different ways in misunderstandings.

Both sides – the employee and the employer, the supervisor and the subordinate, the
senior clerk and the intern – can do a better job of considering culture when working
alongside others. In the end, you will find your communication is far more effective and
it also enhances your interpersonal skills.
Read the text multicultural below and fill the gaps with these words:
diverse multicultural, to escape community, different, migrants

Liverpool is one of Britain's most _________ cities. 

• The city is home to Britain’s oldest African  -------------and Europe's largest Chinese
community. It was also the site of one of the country's earliest mosques.
• Many of Liverpool's _________ people arrived via the docks - whether through work,
trans-Atlantic travel or _______ persecution in their home countries. Those people who
settled here brought with them their different cultures, religious beliefs, food
and languages. We explore how these _________ have shaped the city. A walk through
its streets is a journey across the world.
 CROSS CULTURAL
MANAGEMENT
True or False?
1. Cross –culture includes a lot of activities
2. Cross cultural studies deal with diverse
cultures and their relationship.
3. The effectiveness of a good management is
related to cross cultural awareness.
4. Modern society does not need a cross
cultural awareness.
Cross-cultural management can be understood as the
administration of individuals and activities that include
an alternate culture backdrop and dynamic background.
The study related to cross-culture focuses on the crucial
notions such as training and encouraging how to deal
with clashes of the diverse culture and initiate viable and
sound management. Its fundamental objective is to plan
an achievable management structure and the executive’s
component over the distinctive culture foundations. It
likewise plans to utilize endeavors’ assets, particularly
apply potential estimation of undertakings proficiently
and successfully
 REFERENCES

1. The Polytechnic University of Bucharest- Department of Modern Languages- ENGLISH FOR

PROFESIONAL COMMUNICATION, editura Printech>
2. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/multicultural
3. community
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multicultural#learn-more.
4. www.onestopenglish.com
5. https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests
6. https://springinstitute.org/whats-difference-multicultural-intercultural-cross-cultural-communication.
7. Course support posted on Moodle for each seminar
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
ANSWERS

• Liverpool is one of Britain's most multicultural cities. 

• The city is home to Britain’s oldest African community and Europe's largest Chinese
community. It was also the site of one of the country's earliest mosques.
• Many of Liverpool's diverse people arrived via the docks - whether through work, trans-
Atlantic travel or to escape persecution in their home countries. Those people who settled
here brought with them their different cultures, religious beliefs, food and languages. 
• This walk explores how these migrants have shaped the city. A walk through its streets is
a journey across the world.