Cultural awareness - trainer

1. Cultural awareness

1.2. Multicultural nonverbal language

Nonverbal communication describes the way people send and receive information to each other beyond words. Types of nonverbal communication vary considerably based on culture and country of origin. For individuals working in international environments, understanding how to communicate with colleagues from across the world effectively and respectably is a key competency for their professional success.

Self-assessment: Carry out self-assessment to target learners about non-verbal language.

Aims of multicultural non-verbal language competences:

to learn to accent the meaning of verbal messages
to regulate interactions with others (such as using nonverbal cues to indicate when people should and should not speak)
to substitute for verbal messages (such as nodding instead of saying “yes”)
to realize that there are different forms of human behavior based on culture
to come to a certain agreement on a universal way of showing respect in communication (either in greetings or other behavior codes)
to relativize one’s own cultural codes

Model text (video/picture): Choose some pictures or sequences showing human interaction at a work place similar to yours and use this as a model of how to use body language. Pay attention to different movements, eye contact and greetings. Let learners answer these questions:

a) What kind of meeting/gathering/situation is it?

b) Who are the participants?

c) Can we say with certainty that it is from a culture we know well and why? What are the cues?

d) What can you say about the body language / eye contact?

e) Which elements of a non-verbal language tell you something about the situation – at home or work?

f) Identify the facial expressions.

g) Is there anything in the participants’ body language that helps you identify them as women or men?

h) What would you do differently in a similar situation and why?

Ask learners to compare their own awareness of non-verbal language(s) with fellow-workers.

Activity:

Get learners to compare two different world cultures and ask them to describe the differences in ways of greeting or using eye contact. Can you identify the reasons for doing it in a particular way? Are there differences among various genders, generations or social groups?

Activity:

Ask learners to interview each other and then write down a short list of certain non-verbal signs that they know of and that differ markedly from the culture they live and work in:

those expressing positive attitudes
those expressing hostility
those expressing success or failure
yes or no
politeness or disrespect