Communicating one’s ideas is not always as easy as it may first seem. Similarly,
we often misunderstand what others are trying to tell us. This can occur between
two people of the same culture who speak the same language. When people from different
cultures, speaking different languages communicate, there is a larger chance for
misunderstanding. The most important thing to remember is to talk with your student.
Let the student know they can approach you about anything they do not understand.
• Communication is an extremely complex process, and we offer a few hints that may
help you talk to and listen to the international student with you.
• Understand that you must learn from them; make no assumptions about what they
expect, what they know, what they have understood: ask them. Check your everyday
assumptions: for example, the assumption that silence means they have not understood
you. Maybe they are waiting for you to finish, or thinking about an answer, or maybe
in their culture, it is impolite to jump right in with an answer, the way we do.
• Encourage your student to talk about himself/herself. Ask open ended questions
such as: “What sports do you like?” “Tell me about your family”.
• Speak clearly and a little more slowly than usual. Avoid exaggerating and speaking
broken English.
• Give instructions in simple language and ask the student to tell you what he/she
understood. Avoid asking, “Do you understand” as the answer will always be yes,
if they have not understood!
• Our North American culture is characterized by indirect and euphemistic communication.
Use very explicit, direct questions, not relying on such things as tone of voice
and their inferring what you mean. State your assumptions to them.
• Listen until they have finished – right to the end. North Americans usually place
the most important points at the beginning of their speech. In some cultures it
is the exact opposite, with background information given at the beginning.
• Non-verbal cues: pay close attention to the “unspoken message” – eye contact,
arms and legs, silences, nods. Some say 80% of communication is non-verbal, especially
at the beginning of the conversation. Tone of voice and facial expressions are important
clues too.
• One major stumbling block to communication is our cultural tendency to evaluate
all behavior that is different from what we are used to. Everything is “too much,
good, wrong, rude, approved, disapproved…”
• Remember that under conditions of high anxiety or fatigue communication effectiveness
decreases drastically. Do not overload your student with information just when they
have arrived. Give them a day or two to settle in. Know your own limitations and
biases, and be open to cultural differences. Self-awareness and awareness of your
own culture is essential.
• Allow extra time. Time and patience are needed to allow for the above steps.
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