Cultural competence is required to study, work and live in today’s global environment.

This publication provides strategies on how to be aware and sensitive of cross-cultural differences and respond effectively when interacting with people from different backgrounds.

References: Bennett, M. J. (2007). Intercultural competence for global leadership. Retrieved from http://www.idrinstitute.org/allegati/IDRI_t_Pubblicazioni/4/FILE_Documento.pdf Centre for Excellence in Intercultural Education, NorQuest College (2010). Critical Incidents for Intercultural Communication in Health Care. Retrieved from http://www.norquest.ca/cfe/intercultural/resources/CIICH_final_facilitatorsguide.pdf

When interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, misunderstandings may occur. To manage cross-cultural issues, it is important to distinguish between the other people’s meaning for their behaviours (intention), and our cultural lens assigning meaning to their actions (perception).

Reflective Intercultural Learning Cycle:

1. When certain behaviour doesn't meet your expectations...

2. Don’t judge the behaviour as ‘right or wrong’

3. Try to make sense of the behaviour by reflecting on various cultural orientations

4. After considering different cultural orientations, act on the situation.

For more information, please contact:

Bradley West

Diversity Initiatives Coordinator

204.632.2016 or bcwest@rrc.ca

www.rrc.ca/interculturaltraining

Intercultural Competence is the ability to interact effectively and appropriately with people from diverse cultural

backgrounds. It is the ability to recognize, acknowledge, respect and incorporate an understanding of world views and the impact on relationships.

“Culture” is defined broadly and not limited to national or ethnic affiliations, but may also represent race, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical and cognitive abilities, spiritual beliefs, marital/parental status.

When interacting with individuals from other backgrounds, you can try to predict their behaviours or interpret specific situations (generalizations) based on your previous observation of individuals of the same group.

However, you need to avoid inflexible statements (stereotypes) based only on assumptions of a group that don’t allow for individual differences. An individual may exhibit the predominant group tendency a lot, a little, or not at all.

Intercultural skills can be developed over time. The key to increase your cultural awareness is moving from thinking that “my way is the only way” to thinking “there are many valid ways” of interpreting and participating in life, and this also needs to be reflected in your behaviours.

To be culturally sensitive, a person needs to understand subtle differences between cultures, accept his culture as one of many valid cultures, and behave according to the norms and values of different situations.

To develop their experience of difference, individuals need to move to the Integration stage where they can instinctively change their behaviour and communication style when interacting with other cultures.