Lesson 10: Intercultural Communication

Summary

When speaking with someone who is using a second language to communicate, you may need to slow down and speak clearly. It is good to check for understanding with the speaker or ask for clarification with the listener. Avoid idiomatic expressions and slang. If you catch yourself using them, be certain to explain the idiom. Keep words and sentences within the vocabulary range of the second language speaker and help them to learn the meaning of new words as needed. What may be slow for one ESL team member, maybe too fast for another. Adjust to the needs of the individual you are speaking with. It may be helpful to write down words that are difficult to understand. Remember just as an ESL individual may have an accent, so do you as an English speaker. Give and seek feedback as needed. Above all be sensitive, kind and patient.

Finally, remember that as a GV team member you are not immersed in the culture of other team members. It requires an extra effort to learn about other's culture and to find ways to expose yourself to that culture. As you do, you will have greater understanding and be able to communicate and interact in more meaningful ways.