Communicating with People Around the World

Things to think about before you start posting on i-rise

i-rise is… • a project designed to connect youth across

the globe in a conversation about human rights by using stories

• We believe that the human experience, the human story, is what connects us and binds us together collectively.

• We not only want students to feel connected with the world but we want the world to connect with them.

So, your Story has to be designed for a global audience

India

SwitzerlandUSA

Brazil

Congo

Mexico

France

Sounds a little scary, but…

communicating across cultures can be rewarding

Some of the benefits of this kind of Intercultural Communication can be…

• Learning about the world.  • Breaking stereotypes.  • Getting new skills.• Making new friends!

Ok, I guess that sounds good

What do I need to know before I start?

Tip#1 - Write in Formal Language • America is a very informal country

– Americans tend call everyone by their first names, except for teachers, doctors and a few other professionals

• Most other cultures do not like informality because they are interpreted as signs of disrespect

• Students across the globe are more informal than adults, but don’t assume – You can always become more informal with time

Tip#2 - Read Carefully What Other People Write • Listening (or in our case paying attention to

what people write) is important• In the United States, verbal skills are highly

valued and it is important to be articulate in public settings like on the Internet.

• Being a good listener is less important mode of communication for many people in the United States, but it is considered very important in some culture.

Tip#3 – Write in Low Context • High-context communication is rather indirect,

with most of the information residing in the situation, rather than in the verbal message. – A person has to read into the message; the message

is not in the written words

• Low-context communication is when the bulk of the meaning and information of the message is in the spoken words.

• So write exactly what you mean, do not make the reader figure it out.

Tip#4 – Write Directly, but Understand that Others May Prefer to be Indirect • Many intercultural communication

problems arise from different priorities regarding truth, honesty, harmony, and conflict avoidance in relationships.

• A direct style is one in which verbal messages reveal the speaker's true intentions.– Many people in the United States hold the

direct style as most appropriate in most contexts, valuing honesty, openness, individualism, and forthrightness.

…More on Tip #4

• An indirect style is one in which communication is often designed to hide or minimize the speaker's true intentions. – A speaker may look for a "soft" way to

communicate that there is a problem. – This is the preferred style in many areas

of the world especially in Asian cultures

#5 Don’t be Afraid to Improvise

• Even when people speak the same language, there can be differences in communication style and language use. 

• When both parties try to adapt to the style of the other, they create a third culture style that may be different from either participant’s style. 

More on Tip #5

• Intercultural interactions may be viewed as improvised performances because there is no script.  – This improvisation involves being

flexible and adapting to the situation.   

 

Tip #6 – Beware of Translating Site

• Some people who will use this site will not have English as their first language

• Translating website, like Alta Vista’s Babelfish, are not good ways to translate your meaning– Looking up a word is OK, but a whole

sentence will not result in a clear sentence

More on Tip #6

–Languages are entire systems of meaning not easily translated word-for-word.

So if I follow your tips, there will be no arguments, misunderstandings, or other conflict?

No, conflicts may still occur.

But not all conflict is bad.

Some kinds of conflict can be productive, others can be bad

and destructive

Productive Conflict occurs when…

• Individuals carefully narrow the conflict to try to understand the specific problem.

• Individuals limit conflict to the original issue.

• Individuals put their efforts toward solving the problem together.

Destructive Conflict occurs when..

• Individuals make sweeping statements – Like your ideas are dumb or all those people are

annoying.

• Individuals expand the conflict from the original issues.

• Individuals try to seize power using threats and lies.

• Eventually, individuals will choose a side and no longer have meaningful communication

i-rise support productive conflict

If you have a problem, like a destructive conflict, report it

to the webmaster

Now that you have some tips

Get back to the site and start writing!

i-rise

The Story of Human Rights

www.i-rise.info COMIN

G SOON!