How to overcome cultural communication barriers

How to overcome cultural differences in studying abroad Many foreign students spend a lot of time on cultural adaptation because they are not fully prepared psychologically, which not only affects their studies, but also causes unnecessary waste. Below, I have compiled some methods to overcome cultural communication barriers for your reference.

The method to overcome the obstacles of cultural communication: the process of cultural adaptation. Everyone who studies abroad for the first time will go through three stages: excitement, cultural collision and habit. According to each person's psychological quality, education, age and language ability, these three periods can be long or short. People who go abroad for the first time often feel very excited when they just set foot on a foreign land. Its psychological reaction has the same tourists, curious about everything. At this time, he didn't really come into contact with the local society, so he was tolerant of cultural differences.

Generally speaking, if there is no friendly guide, the honeymoon period will soon pass (some people have calculated that it is usually two weeks), followed by disappointment and loss? Lost in a strange environment, everything has to be learned from scratch. The collision of cultures begins with the little things in life, but its influence lies in people's thoughts. When we gradually understand and get used to the host country's code of conduct and consciously or unconsciously move closer to the local culture, then we enter the adaptation period. We no longer feel at a loss, we are no longer curious about the local lifestyle, we also feel natural, and we have gradually formed our own circle.

However, it is worth noting that long-term cultural integration will inevitably affect one's study. So why do some people have a long period of cultural adaptation, while others can adapt to life abroad quickly? It depends on many factors. These factors are both subjective and objective. For example, our ignorance of the host country's culture, worldly wisdom and customs; Cann't get rid of yourself? Cultural colored glasses? Wait a minute. Objective factors include age, language communication ability, geographical environment and so on. Generally speaking, the younger you study abroad, the stronger your language ability and the easier it is to adapt. In addition, some cultures are themselves a hybrid culture, such as American immigrant culture, which is particularly easy for people to adapt. Some cultures are ancient and single, such as some native cultures in Europe, which are not as tolerant of differences as the former. It takes more efforts to adapt to life in this cultural environment.

Ways to overcome barriers to cultural exchange: Overcoming barriers to cultural differences We are not fatalists. The formation of cultural prejudice is the result of asymmetric information circulation. If a person has not personally experienced a foreign culture, he can only form his own view of this culture through the experience of others or the propaganda of mass media. In the mid-1980s, someone once asked me if women in China still have feet. This extreme example shows that they didn't get new information about China culture, which led to misunderstanding or misinterpretation. However, people can change. As long as we are good at communication and adopt correct strategies and means, we can change the views of people around us and improve our living environment. Students who are going abroad are advised to make more preparations in language and culture. For example, contact as many foreigners as possible in China and ask them to introduce their cross-cultural experiences in China and their living habits abroad. When you go abroad, you should also boldly make local friends and try to live a lifestyle and behavior? Do as the Romans do? . This is an effective means to eliminate cultural barriers. Desperate? Go your own way? , in the end can only be reduced to? Are you alone? .

Two misunderstandings to be avoided in cross-cultural communication. One is xenophobia, the other is obsequiousness. Both are manifestations of extreme cultural prejudice. Cross-cultural communication, we should temporarily put down our own standards to understand others. But it doesn't mean giving up one's own cultural values and completely westernizing. In fact, differences are not a bad thing. Experience tells us that differences often attract the attention and curiosity of others. If we can turn differences into communication motivation and strengthen communication with curiosity, then we can make many friends. There are only differences between different cultures, not advantages and disadvantages.

The correct attitude of cross-cultural communication should be modest and studious, neither supercilious nor supercilious, treat each other with courtesy, and don't use your own standards to evaluate other people's behavior. We should also learn to protect ourselves and safeguard our national pride. Denying one's national self-esteem will never win the respect of others.

In addition, people who live in small cities to study abroad are more curious and simple about foreigners and easy to make friends. During my stay in France, I stayed in a medium-sized city in the north for two years, where I deeply felt the friendliness of northerners. Every foreign student will know how important this friendship is when he is away from the motherland. Remember the first time I borrowed books from the city library because? China culture? I met two librarians, and the help they gave me later was a very important factor in my smooth adaptation. After arriving in Paris, such opportunities are much less.