Chapter 5: Intercultural Competence and Communication
Summary
In this chapter, we began by discussing what culture and intercultural competence are. We looked at the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) as a way of developing intercultural competence and supporting increasing self-awareness. We expanded our cultural knowledge with an introduction to some common culture general frameworks. We applied the D.I.E. Model to help us see a miscommunication from another perspective. We learned that intercultural competence is an intentional and continuous process, so we created an action plan to support future development.
Key Takeaways
- Being interculturally competent is the personal ability to interact with others effectively and appropriately in varying cultural contexts.
- Intercultural competence must begin with an awareness of our own cultural identities and lenses.
- Intercultural competence is not a just skill to be attained but requires a shift of mindset or worldview.
- Developing and maintaining intercultural competence is an intentional and lifelong learning process.
- Although we cannot improve the intercultural competence of others, being aware of the stages can help better understand, support, and show empathy for others.
