Meeting 1 Understanding Intercultural Communication: Introduction and Overview Discuss the following questions in groups of four. 1. Intercultural contact today is far more numerous and of greater importance than ever before. What do you think are the causes of these differences? 2. Do you think that people are prepared for this increase in intercultural contact? If not, why? 3. How has this increase in intercultural contacts touched your life? Give examples. 4. Why is culture an important consideration in human interaction? 5. What is meant by the statement “culture is learned”? Can you think of examples that demonstrate this “learning” process? 6. Why is worldview important to the study of intercultural communication? How does one’s worldview contribute to how one perceives the world? 7. What is meant by “cultural values”? How might these values influence intercultural communication? 8. What is the difference between ‘high context’ and ‘low context’ cultures? Provide some examples. Meeting 1 Understanding Intercultural Communication: Introduction and Overview Discuss the following questions in groups of four. 1. Intercultural contact today is far more numerous and of greater importance than ever before. What do you think are the causes of these differences? 2. Do you think that people are prepared for this increase in intercultural contact? If not, why? 3. How has this increase in intercultural contacts touched your life? Give examples. 4. Why is culture an important consideration in human interaction? 5. What is meant by the statement “culture is learned”? Can you think of examples that demonstrate this “learning” process? 6. Why is worldview important to the study of intercultural communication? How does one’s worldview contribute to how one perceives the world? 7. What is meant by “cultural values”? How might these values influence intercultural communication?
