TSLB3323 Intercultural Competence SK2

Stereotypes are overgeneralizations of only negative load of values.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The answer is false because people can have stereotypes with positive values.

Finding out about the other is one of the five sub-competence in Awareness of the Self and the Other. What is one of the four foundation for the intercultural encounter stated in the article given?

• Showing hostility towards others.

• Curiosity and perseverance to know.

• Assessing and reflecting on one's own social construct.

• Forcibly be close to the others.

Answer explanation

Being curious encourages us to ask questions and seek knowledge, fostering self-awareness and empathy for others. Perseverance ensures that we continue to dig deeper, even when faced with challenges. ( Plus the statement, “Curiosity and perseverance to know” is shown in the article).

It can be observed that reflecting on one's own social construct becomes exceptionally useful as it may be seen as the necessity to embark on a journey within with a critical mindset, an examination of one's own views and social constructs.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

When self-reflecting, we can make an in-depth judgement about our own self (cultural background, opinions, beliefs) and self-reflecting paves the way for personal growth.

These following statements explained about reverse culture-shock EXCEPT…

• The emotional and psychological distress suffered by some people when they return home after a number of years overseas

• A mental and social period of re-adjustment

• Anxiety that happens when a person loses all the familiar cues to reality on which each of us depend

• Reverting to one's home culture after growing accustomed to a new one

Answer explanation

It is the right statement and definition for culture shock while the other answer is the statement that explain and similar to reverse culture-shock definition.

“Cultural differences cause behavioural and personality differences like body language, gestures, mindsets, manners and norms which may lead to miscommunication.”

Which one of the following is the way to break through the miscommunication and awareness of others?

• Dealing with culture-shock

• Recognizing similarities and differences of culture

• Tolerate differences within culture

• Disregard individual idiosyncrasy

Answer explanation

Because recognizing is everyone has similarities and differences that has to be acknowledge of especially when communicating with someone with different background.

“Communication is more non-verbal than verbal” 

Based on the statement above, communication does not exclusively depend on language.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Non verbal aspects such as gestures, eye contact, body language (interpersonal space) or  appearances (bodily touching) seem to be highly used in cross-cultural communication even though verbal communication is being taught in the foreign language curriculum and syllabus. 

Non verbal also helps the verbal communication by reinforcing it with expression.

Due to the fact that everyone has the ability to comprehend one another, negotiations that take place across languages and cultures do not lead to more miscommunication.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Since different languages possessed different concept of words, wrong assumption from the other party can occurs.

How is the success of intercultural communication determined?

• Both ends of the communication are able to convey their messages.

• Results of negotiation favours only one side of the communication.

• Result of negotiation favours both sides in the communication.

• One side of the communication is able to achieve intercultural awareness.

Answer explanation

Guilherme (2000: 297-300) stated that success in intercultural communication means achieving a mutual compromise despite differences in terms of culture. Cohen (2004) stated that negotiation is a linguistic and communicative practice that aims to establish mutual understanding in situations where conflicts of understandings have existed before.

Based on these situations, which one show the lack of awareness towards paralinguistic features when communicating with people from other culture?

• Waheedah thought Soip is flirting with her because of his way of speaking.

• Donita did not take an offense when Sherina is speaking roughly towards her.

• Harith is sweating a lot before a presentation but Glenn assume that he is just feeling hot.

• Shahzani thought Francesca is going to choose her as a partner because she is looking at Shahzani intensely.

Answer explanation

Paralinguistic features are stress, rhythm and intonation that people use during verbal communication.

Verbal communication includes four main competences that are identified by Canale and Swain (1980:7-11), 

they are:Grammatical Competence

1. I Sociolinguistic Competence

2. II Lexical Competence

3. III Discourse Competence

4. IV Strategic Competence

• I, II, III, IV

• II, III, IV, V

• I, II, III, V

• I, II, IV, V

Answer explanation

Because lexical competence is not one of the competences that are found in Canale and Swain’s study.