This is a Zoom lecture presentation of Intercultual Communication Competence provided to Seinan Jogakuin University students.

1. What is the Intercultural
Communication
Competence and How You
Can Enhance It?
Ritsumeikan University
Kazunori Nozawa

2. Outline
1. My Brief Self-Introduction – 3 mins
2. Intercultural Communication Quiz (Quizizz) – 10 mins
3. Breakout Room Discussion #1 – 7 mins
4. Definition of Culture – 3 mins
5. Video Watching: Culture of the World – 9 mins
6. Breakout Room Discussion #2 – 5 mins
7. Cross Cultural Differences – 5 mins
8. Breakout Room Discussion #3 – 5 mins
9. What is Intercultural Communication Competence? -
5 mins
10.In the case of Canada – Intercultural Effective
Person – 7 mins
11.Challenge Corner – 5 mins
12.Q&A session
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3. Self-Introduction
Specially Appointed Professor
(April 2017- March 2022) &
Professor Emeritus (2017-)
Apple Distinguished
Educator (2013)
CALL Electronic Journal
Editor-in-Chief (1999-)
Global Scale English
Thought Leader (2016)
nozawa@is.ritsumei.ac.jp
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4. How is your Intercultural
communication Competence
Level?
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5. How is your Intercultural
communication Competence
Level?
Go to Joinmyquiz -
https://quizizz.com/join?
gc=936061 and
enter the code 936061
096227
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6. Breakout Room Discussion #1
How many were you
correct?
Please discuss your
performance results
with your group
members at
Breakout Rooms
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7. Your Study Time
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8. What is Culture?
Herbig (1998) defines that culture as
the sum of a way of life, including
expected behavior, beliefs, values,
language and living practices shared
by members of a society. It consists
of both explicit and implicit rules
through which experience is
interpreted.
Hofstede (2001) also refers to culture
as a “programming of the mind.”
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9. What is Culture?
The Center for Advanced Research on
Language Acquisition (CARLA) (n. d.)
defines that culture as the shared
patterns of behaviors and interactions,
cognitive constructs, and affective
understanding that are learned
through a process of socialization.
These shared patterns identify the
members of a culture group while also
distinguishing those of another group.
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10. What is Culture?
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11. Difficult to understand what
Culture is? Let’s watch a video!
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12. Breakout Room Discussion #2
Discuss what
you have
learned from
the video and
share your
ideas with
different group
members.
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13. When we communicate, we see
Cross-Cultural differences!
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14. Let’s consider a case of an Indian in
Germany
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1. What happened?
2. Why did the Indian refuse to participate in this?

15. Breakout Room Discussion #3
Discuss possible answers for the
questions.
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16. Communicating across cultures needs
more than language
Some cultures
Need more background and context
Need different messages
All cultures have different reactions to
Tone of voice
Nonverbal language
All cultures have potential for
miscommunication.
The more sensitive the message the more
miscommunications can happen.
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17. A variety of barriers to overcome
▸Body Language
▸Etiquette
▸Establishing Trust
▸Religious Beliefs
▸Social Habits
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18. When we communicate, we see
cross-cultural differences!
“A person acts according to the values
and norms of his or her culture; another
person holding a different worldview
might interpret his or her behavior from an
opposite standpoint. This situation
creates misunderstanding and can lead to
conflict.”
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19. Why is cross-cultural
communication important?
▸Glocalization - Global
+ Local
▸Business
Opportunities
▸Job Opportunities
▸Sharing of views &
ideas
▸An understanding of
diverse cultures
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20. What is Intercultural
Communication Competence?
Monash Intercultural Lab (n.d.) defines
lntercultural competence (ICC) is the ability
to function effectively across cultures, to
think and act appropriately, and to
communicate and work with people from
different cultural backgrounds – at home or
abroad.
ICC is a valuable asset in an increasingly
globalized world where we are more likely to
interact with people from different cultures
and countries who have been shaped by
different values, beliefs and experiences.
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21. What is Intercultural
Communication Competence?
ICC is part of a family of concepts
including global competence, graduate
attributes, employability skills, global
citizenship, education for sustainable
development and global employability.
Core to all these concepts is recognition
of globalization as a force for change in all
aspects of the contemporary world, and
the importance for graduates to be able to
engage and act globally.
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22. What is Intercultural
Communication Competence?
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23. In the Case of Canada
What is an interculturally effective
person?
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24. Vulpe et al. (2001)
Someone who is able to “live
contentedly (happily) and
work successfully in another
culture.
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25. Vulpe et al. (2001)
• The 30 core competencies
constitute a comprehensive list of
the specific core qualities that an
effective intercultural person
should possess.
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26. Vulpe et al. (2001)
• Interculturally Effective
Persons (IEPs) have the ability
to cope personally,
professionally, and in their
family context with the
conditions and challenges of
living and working in another
culture.
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27. Vulpe et al. (2001)
• IEPs demonstrate modesty about
their own culture’s answers to
problems and a respect for the
ways of the local culture, are
humble about their knowledge of
the local context, and are
therefore willing to learn much
and consult with locals before
coming to conclusions on issues.
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28. Vulpe et al. (2001)
• IEPs have an understanding of
the concept of culture and the
pervasive influence it will have
on their life and work abroad.
• IEPs possess knowledge of the
host country and culture and
try constantly to expand that
knowledge.
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29. Vulpe et al. (2001)
• IEPs possess good relationship building
skills, both social/personal and
professional.
• IEPs possess knowledge of ones’
own backgrounds, motivations,
strengths and weaknesses.
• IEPs are effective intercultural
communicators.
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30. Vulpe et al. (2001)
• IEPs strive to improve the quality of
organizational structures,
processes, and staff morale, and
promote a positive atmosphere in
the workplace.
• IEPs have a high level of personal
and professional commitment to
the assignment and the life
experience in another culture.
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31. Before Ending the Talk
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32. The fable of the frog and the scorpion
by Berninghausen et al. (2003)
3
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33. The fable of the frog and the scorpion
by Berninghausen et al. (2003)
3
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34. The fable of the frog and the scorpion
by Berninghausen et al. (2003)
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A cultural perspective: the
scorpion does not have a good
reputation - Scorpions are
malicious and underhanded.
They just sting because that’s
what they do.
Can’t we learn from this?
Is everything supposed to remain
as it is, even in light of the
danger of getting stung or killed?

35. The fable of the frog and the scorpion
by Berninghausen et al. (2003)
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In the ancient world of the high cultures of the Middle
East, scorpions were not trusted either. Even today,
many would see: we can't trust those from the Orient.
However, we have learned how to think, feel, and
react, so we can at least reconsider this perspective.
We don’t have to hold on to our “truths”. These can
be preconceived notions and judgments. The
prerequisite for re-learning is to take responsibility for
ourselves and our actions and not, like the
scorpion, find excuses for our behavior just because
that is who we are.

36. To become Intercultural Persons
• You should create communication context
that is familiar to others, respond to their
counterparts with familiar cultural scripts,
making them feel at home.
• You should be promoting self-
transformation, identity extension as well
as mutual growth.
• In integrating foreign elements and
extending your identities, you should
enhance mutual growth with people who
have different cultural backgrounds.
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37. Barriers to have Effective Cross-
Cultural Communication
• Verbal communication
• Nonverbal communication
• Social values x belief
systems
• Social customs
• Business ethics
• Etiquette and behavior
• Expectations
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38. Ways to Overcome
• Establish mutual respect
and understanding
• Enhance cross-cultural
awareness
• Improve intercultural
communication
competence
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39. Points to Remember in Cross Cultural
Communication
• Don’t generalize!
• Don’t stereotype!
• Be genuine!
• Have the right
intentions!
• Have a generous heart!
• Treat people with
respect!
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40. References
Be Swift Be Precise (2015, January) Gonzaga University Social Issues: The Intercultural Person.
https://beswiftbeprecise.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/the-intercultural-person/
Vulpe, T., Kealey, D., Protheroe, D., & MacDonald, D. (2001). A Profile of the Interculturally
Effective Person. Center for Intercultural learning, Canadian Foreign Service Institute.
Herbig, P. (1998). Handbook of Cross-Cultural Marketing, New York: The Haworth Press
Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related
Values, London: Sage
Intercultural personhood and identity negotiation.. (n.d.) The Free Library. (2014).
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Intercultural+personhood+and+identity+negotiation.-
a0215410902
McKinnon, S. (n.d.). What is intercultural competence? https://www.gcu.ac.uk/media/
gcalwebv2/theuniversity/centresprojects/globalperspectives/Definition of_Intercultural
_competence.pdf
Monash Intercultural Lab (n.d.). What is intercultural competence, and why is it important?
https://www.monash.edu/arts/monash-intercultural-lab/about-the-monash-intercultural-
lab/what-is-intercultural-competence
The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) (n.d.) What is Culture?,
the University of Minnesota. https://carla.umn.edu/culture/definitions.html
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41. You definitely need to be out of
your box! (Arthur C. Clarke)
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43. Typical Gestures in English Speaking
World
If you want to join this, download Kahoot! app
from Apple Store or Google Play into your
smartphone or just access to Kahoot!
(https://kahoot.com/home/) with PC and press
Play button to join the game.
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