Cultural Influences on
Communication With
Students
John Reinard
http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/jreinard
Want More Information?
Diversity Kit of the Education Alliance at Brown University
(excellent resources summarizing intercultural demands on
education)
http://www.lab.brown.edu/tdl/diversitykitpdfs/diversitykit.pdf
Papers and articles mostly on nonverbal communication and
teaching:
http://www.virginiaprichmond-phd.com/articles/
Papers and articles including many on nonverbal
communication and teaching:
http://www.jamescmccroskey.com/publications/periods.htm
AGENDA
Where Does Communication Fit?
Where are the Communication
Breakdowns?
Where Does This
Communication Stuff
Fit?
Communication:
the process by which people
exchange
and assign meaning
to messages
Communication as a Core
Subject Among the Liberal Arts
Trivium:
Logic
Grammar
Rhetoric
Quadrivium:
Arithmetic
Geometry
Astronomy
Music
Logic
Geometry
Grammar
Rhetoric/
Rhetoric/
Communication
Communication
Arithmetic
Astronomy
Music
AGENDA
Where Does Communication Fit?
Where are the Communication
Breakdowns?
Berlo’s SMCR Model
S M C R
Messages
Verbal Cues: use of words
Nonverbal Cues: use of elements beyond
words
An example:
I never cheat on my homework.
Meanings in Words?
Sanction: to approve
a measure to make another desist
Cleave: to separate
to adhere together
Inhabitable: able to be lived in
unable to be lived in
Berlo’s SMCR Model as
an Interactional Model
S M C R
Low Context
Communication
Most information is in the explicit
code
Direct and unambiguous language
The speaker is expected to get the
message across to the listener
Cultural Contexts
Higher
Context
Lower
Context
Information provided
explicitly, by words



Nonverbal cues are
ignored
Need detailed
background
information
Consider knowledge
a commodity
Information drawn
from surroundings



Nonverbal cues are
important
Free flow of
information
Maintain strong
information networks
High Context
Communication
Most information is in physical
context or is internalized to the
person
Indirect or abstract message
Listener is expected to know what
is on the speaker’s mind
Berlo’s SMCR Model as
an Interactional Model
S M C R
Functions of
Communication
The information function
The relationship function
The influence function
Cultural Ethnocentrism
Is a Sure Way to Create
Interpersonal Barriers
How Does Ethnocentrism
Affect Our Language?
Distance of Disparagement (encourages
others to think less highly of themselves)
Distance of Indifference (shows a lack of
thought about others feelings)
Distance of Avoidance (use of language
that excludes others)
Vs. the Distance of Sensitivity
But What Can You Do as a Teacher?
Seek Information about the Culture
Ask Questions and Listen
Intercultural Communication Kit
In the classroom:
check perceptions with students
increase number of communication
channels
avoid mindless reciprocation
of nonverbal cues, use
formative feedback