Cross-Cultural Communication Tips for AmericansI. Why Americans need cross-cult

Cross-Cultural Communication Tips for Americans
Good morning everyone. Today we are going to talk about the practical tips in cross-cultural communication.
There are millions of people living in the United States who were born abroad and chose to make a new life in America. There are also plenty of people who were born here, but are part of a culture that differs from mainstream American culture. It’s no wonder that we take pride in being a society in which people from all nations and cultures can live. But too often, Americans only consider their own side of interactions between cultures.[1]Instead of the old expression that described American society as a "melting pot," it’s more accurate today to compare it to a "salad bowl," in which different people are mixed together, but maintain their unique cultural identities.
Members of all cultures need to take care to understand and accommodate each other.[2]The worst thing you can do when speaking with someone from another culture is to base your actions on assumptions. Our advice for cross-cultural communication can be boiled down to one rule: Don’t assume anything! Instead, you should learn how to ask around a sensitive topic and[3]watch for your conversation partner’s reaction. Often you can find the information you’re looking for without making the person feel that you’re expecting a stereotype.[4]The other essential component of cross-cultural communication is to expect some misunderstandings.
Often we regard standards and rules of our culture as universal—only to be offended and shocked when someone violates those standards. A few mistakes are bound to occur.[5]Don’t feel awkward—from the other person’s perspective, you’re the one who’s from a different culture. Chances are the same questions and hesitations that are going through your mind are going through the other person’s as well.
Here are three important tips you could follow in order to avoid awkwardness in cross-cultural communication.
Key Tip 1
Take the initiative and introduce yourself, and if the conversation lags,[6]do your best to push it along.[7]People can sometimes feel a little shy when immersed in a different culture because they’re afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing—or they just feel different from everyone else.[7]Asking friendly questions is a good way to draw people out of their shells.
Key Tip 2
It’s difficult to tell a person’s native country by the accent. Someone may speak with what sounds like a British accent, but could actually be from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, India, Canada, Ghana, Belize, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe or any other of the dozens of independent nations or protectorates that were once British colonies. Another example is Spanish, which is the most widely spoken romance language in the world. It’s the official language of Spain and much of Latin America And don’t forget that more than 14 million people in the United States speak Spanish as their primary language, and many of them are American-born.[8]Making assumptions about someone’s native country just because of an accent is risky. Play it safe and give the person an opportunity to share this information with you.
Key Tip 3
Topics that you might consider personal, like your income or dating life, may be suitable for conversation in someone else’s culture. Rather than taking offense, try to let it slide. Questions like these are well-meaning attempts to make conversation with you or to learn more about your culture.[9]If a question is too personal, deflect it by making your answer broad and general. Instead of saying "I make $40,000 a year," say "People in my field usually make anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 a year."[10]If you’re pressed for specifics, then you can gently give an answer like, "That’s a topic that I don’t feel comfortable discussing," and move on to a new area.
Now, let’s look at a cross-cultural interaction gone wrong:[11]Jeff is introduced to one of his company’s new consultants, Lora. As Lora smiles and says hello, Jeff notices her dark skin and Spanish accent.
As they make small talk, Jeff realizes that Lora’s still calling him Mr. Williams. He decides to help break the ice and call Lora by her first name as often as he can. In an attempt to warm her up, he asks if she’s been to any good bullfights lately. When she balks, he mentions an article describing the cruelty of bullfighting, and then he invites her to a basketball game so that she can see some real American sports.
How did Jeff do? Well, he violated most of our rules:
First of all,[12]he assumed that he could address her by her first name without asking if it was okay to do so.
Next in order,[13]he tried to force her into a degree of familiarity that made her uncomfortable.
Thirdly,[14]by asking her about bullfighting, he assumed she was from Spain or Mexico. Lora’s from Chile, which doesn’t allow bullfighting.
Finally, he made himself look a little foolish when he talked to her as if she didn’t know that some people regard bullfighting as cruel and[15]by assuming that Lora had never been to a basketball game before.
OK I think we all understand the importance of sticking to the tips we have shared. Remember that people from different countries, even other English-speaking nations, probably won’t speak, dress, act, or even eat the same way you do. Don’t assume that someone from another country, or another culture, shares your values and attitudes, no matter how firmly you believe in them, or how widely held you think they are. Expect and respect cultural differences.