Menu
As the world becomes more interconected than ever, and societies have the ease of contacting people from all around the world in a matter of seconds, it is important to understand the similarities and differences that exist between cultures.
Key values that are needed to be promoted are tolerance and respect, specially when people from other countries have a different set of opinions.
No, there is no perfect country, nor society, but what it makes a better global society is the understanding of each other position and merge what it is the best of both communities.
Regardless of the cultural differences, languages spoken, characteristics, behaviours, religious backgrounds and belief, what makes it possible to manage intercultural relationships is an open attitude towards a positive interaction.
Following up, we will discuss more about intercultural awareness and its development.
Intercultural awareness is the ability to understand and appreciate the differences between cultures.
It involves understanding how cultures are similar and how they are different, and being able to effectively communicate with people from other cultures.
Intercultural awareness can contribute to effective communication in several ways.
First, it can teach people to understand, acknowledge and appreciate the perspectives of others.
Second, it can help people to avoid stereotypes and misunderstandings that might come across.
Third, it can help people to build rapport, agreement, appreciation and trust.
Finally, it can support people to resolve conflicts, reduce tension and achieve common goals.
There are many ways to improve intercultural awareness.
What is key is to have a proper orientation and willingess to expand the own personal world view.
One way is to attend events that celebrate diversity.
These can be festivals, concerts, or other cultural events. another way is to learn about other cultures by reading books, watching movies, or talking to people from different cultures.
By interacting with different people from around the world will influence your perception to really interpret and build an opinion of your own about the culture.
It is important to be respectful of other cultures and to avoid making any assumptions or judgments about them.
Learning and language teaching is a way of transmitting intercultural knowlege, as it is a point of interaction to understand a society.
Language is a crucial part of the identity of a region, and it sets as well the way of thinking and expressing.
And as well, in linguistic it is not only about the language but as well the body language, and how different cultures express themeselves in different ways.
As well, living abroad could be considered the best way to sumerge into another culture and see the world with your own eyes.
Yes, people might read, listen to stores and watch movies, but to build a proper self-awareness of a different culture is better to live in that country.
The dynamic of living abroad brings a person outside of his or her comfort zone, where the person has to deal with the different aspects of life, like going out to do grocery shopping, being at a restaurant, checking out health care, and working.
If the country where the person is living has a different language, then he has to translate at first all the signs, documents and text that he reads in order to understand.
The curiosity to learn more about the culture will bring the person to outside of his comfort zone, and eventually will create his own point of view of the culture.
In today’s business world, it’s more important than ever to be aware of the different cultures that exist within and outside of your company.
By understanding the customs, reactions, traditions, and values of others, you can create a more inclusive environment and avoid potential misunderstandings or conflict.
Additionally, being aware of different cultures can help you tap into new markets and better understand your customers’ needs.
Cultural awareness can affect the workplace in a number of ways.
For example, if employees are not aware of the different cultural backgrounds of their colleagues, they may make assumptions or judgments that are not accurate.
Additionally, cultural awareness can help create a more positive and productive work environment by promoting understanding and respect for differences. When employees are aware of the culture of their workplace, they can be more effective in intercultural communication and collaboration.
Organizational success can be measured in many ways, but one important factor is cultural awareness.
A company that is culturally aware is able to understand and appreciate the differences between cultures effectively across peers, and how those differences can impact business.
This understanding can help a company to avoid misunderstandings and communication problems, and can ultimately lead to better business results.
Ultimately, cultural awareness is key to success in today’s global economy.
