We usually hear that communication is key in any relationship whether it is a friendship, work or love relationship. But what happens when both parties communicate in their own way and the other person interprets that communication based on their perspective or paradigm? The result is miscommunication. This can happen on a daily basis, and even more common if we talk about communication between people from different cultures.
Each person acquires his or her own paradigm of how to communicate, what gestures to use, in what order to express ideas, what responses are appropriate in certain social situations, how to deal with problems, among many other things. Normally, people who grow up within the same culture acquire a similar paradigm, although it should be noted that not necessarily all people of the same culture will act in the same way because each person lives different experiences, and acquire different values and principles.
That is why one of the best things we can do when interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds, as may be the case in a TESOL classroom, is to avoid making assumptions, and not take other people's actions as personal offenses. As a teacher, be informed about the different customs, and explain to the students that there are different perspectives and that diversity is something marvelous. If it is possible to make it possible for the students themselves to share their culture, always guiding them, and that there is an environment where patience and tolerance allow for effective communication.
It's a good advice asking students to share their culture. I think a clasroom where patiience and tolerance are presented is good for aan effective communication, too.
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