Multicultural Interaction Research Articles

Intercultural Communication Training in Vocational and Industrial Education Training

The globalization and free trade between countries and nations has created demands for the knowledge and skills in the area of intercultural interaction and transaction. Intercultural Communication Competences (ICC) is one of the capabilities that need to be possessed by workers and professionals who want to have a bigger role in the business and industries in international level. Vocational education institutions are demanded to provide their students with a certain degree of competences in multicultural interaction and communication. This paper aims to address the effectiveness of trainings in a vocational education institution in equipping its students with the intercultural communication skills. Using a sample of students from the ISP Cruiseship and Hotel School Surakarta, Central Java, this study will analyses the differences of ICC between groups of students who have undergone various forms of training in intercultural communication, in order to determine the effectiveness of the training in equipping the students with the necessary intercultural communication skills. The study incorporates a quantitative approach, using survey method. The data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variations between groups. The result shows that the intercultural communication training increase the level of ICC especially in the intercultural confidence dimension.

Analysis of the results of the pedagogical experiment on implementing the pedagogical technology of forming future agrarians’ multicultural competence

The authorial pedagogical technology of forming the multicultural competence of future agrarians has been checked. The modified conditions of the research work include the methodology of interrelated teaching a foreign language and a culture. The English language played the role of the means of multicultural interaction among the representatives of different countries and the tool of effective professionally development. The pedagogical process has been organized on the basis of the personality orientated, communicative, axiology and linguistic regional geography approaches. Professionally-oriented foreign and multicultural materials have been used. In choosing the teaching methods we have considered the academic peculiarities of students-agrarians, based on the specific principles of future agrarians' multicultural education at foreign language classes: the principle of the dialogue of cultures, the principle of cultural suitability, the principle of national and common humanity unity, the principle of multiculturalism and multicultural tolerance, the principle of problem culture-regional tasks prevailing, the principle of authenticity, the principle of novelty, the principle of professional orientation. It has been proved experimentally, that forming of the multicultural competence will be successful in case of observing the following pedagogical conditions: implementing the interactive teaching methods for increasing the internal motivation of educational activity; the organization of the educational multicultural environment as the social system of a multi-subject type at the agrarian higher educational institution; rational combining classroom and independent work; application of electronic educationally-methodological complex of forming future agrarians' multicultural competence

Bridging Mediterranean cultures in the International Year of Soils 2015: a documentary exhibition on irrigation techniques in water scarcity conditions

The paper presents the activity performed at the University of Brescia by students and researchers, belonging to different Mediterranean cultures and different disciplines, to prepare a documentary exhibition on irrigation techniques in water scarcity conditions, on the occasion of the International Year of Soils 2015. Traditional irrigation techniques were identified as a key aspect of soil conservation and agricultural practices, to build living and autopoietic ecosystems, also in adverse climatic conditions, and to adapt to climatic changes. Being a structural source of ecosystem survival, and being based on long-lasting observation of the climate and of the environment, they have deep roots in local cultures and they were identified as a common ground also for multicultural interaction. The core of the exhibition is structured in sections focused on techniques for collecting groundwater, atmospheric humidity and surface water, on water lifting techniques and on water distributive systems. The final section of the exhibition is devoted to the oases which are presented as an equilibrium ecosystem, established upon the alliance between man and nature and founded on the capability of collecting water.

Continuity of Local Identity in The Multicultural Neighborhood

A century ago, Sosrowijayan Wetan was a homogenous place and all of its inhabitants were Javanese. However, tourist accommodation development in the area gave rise to globalization. As a result, Sosrowijayan Wetan transformed into an international tourist neighborhood, especially for backpackers. The differences of value between expatriates and local people stimulated transformation in Sosrowijayan Wetan, for instance, in spatial and socio-cultural aspects. The destabilizing effect of this transformation involved a highly complex process with an important consequence in the continuity of the local identity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the continuity of local identity in Sosrowijayan Wetan. A constructivist grounded theory as qualitative methods was utilized. The transcribed data were constantly built into a collective story. It was found that most insiders continued to hold onto and identify with the traditional ways of life and felt strong ties to their neighborhood. However, the structures and the values in this community seemed to be more resistant to change. Therefore, local initiative for cultural resilience became more important because the decline of local culture might lead to more multicultural problems. For instance, if the insiders were not interested in supporting the initiative through their participation in the organization, multicultural interaction problems would proliferate. This relationship influenced the continuity of local identity through its adaptation strategy for the cultural resilience.

Harmoni Lintas Agama Masyarakat Tengger

This paper attempts to closely portray interreligious harmony, especially between Muslim and Hindu community in Tengger, East Java. Tengger community are ingrained with their own culture and practicing their unique tradition. Through symbolic-interactionist approach, this paper supposes that this reality represents a cultural process which is simultaneously and flexibly flowing and growing. In the name of brotherhood and humanity, Tengger people are running their daily activities, discounting subjective differences among them. Sociologically, they are focusing on facing the reality as objective necessities where the self and the other are mutually understanding and complementing each other. In this regard, they have improved the way of interaction, from <em>saya</em>-and-<em>mereka</em> perspective to <em>kami</em>-and<em>kita</em> approach. Social activities and religious/cultural rites symbolically become communicative device of inter-relation among the people. Muslim and Hindu harmony in this community denotes multicultural interaction that entails social involvement of members of community. Tengger people, as an animal symbolicum, strive to construct, expand and (re)interpret the symbols for building harmony.

Top Management Teams' Competencies for International Operations: Do they Influence a Firm's Result?

Firms currently face numerous challenges when they operate abroad. To overcome these challenges many researchers define a set of vital factors that influence companies' successful operations in international markets. Among others, an important factor is the competencies of the top management team (TMT), which significantly influence an organisation's results. Currently, there is a lack of studies either observing the role of TMTs' competencies when a company decides to operate internationally or proving that a top manager's competencies are related to a firm's performance. To fill that gap, this paper explores how a TMT's competencies are associated with the realisation of a firm's international operations. The findings indicate that there is a strong correlation between top management competencies and the successful realisation of a firm's operations in international markets. Moreover, the evidence suggests that the most significant competencies for this are superior cognitive and analytical capabilities, ability to create and to use foreign contacts, project aptitude, and ability to create multicultural interaction. The research is based on the evidence of Russian companies operating in foreign markets.

A Multi-Cultural Interaction Through Video Conferencing In Primary Schools

This study investigated Turkish and Canadian primary school students’ ways of expressing their perception of cultural understanding through video conferencing and that of cultural interaction through video conferencing. The qualitative research data were collected in the form of interviews. The results obtained were analyzed and interpreted based on the quantitative content analysis method. The research results revealed that the majority of the students explained their viewpoints through the effectiveness of the process. The students highlighted the importance of learning a different culture, using technology effective and recognizing new friends in the process. Most of the students indicated that videoconferencing encouraged them to learn and understand about different cultures, helped them develop cultural awareness, attracted their attention and increased their motivation.

Environmental projects of Jewish and Arab youth in Israel: the adult leaders’ views

Socio‐environmental projects involving Arab and Jewish youth in Israel are uncommon. In this study, we interviewed 16 adult leaders of two projects that were carried out in the Galilee in northern Israel, to better understand the views of the leaders and their motives. The two projects focused on mutual environmental issues and dealt with social, cultural, and political aspects with respect to the environmental context. The participants were teachers and principals of the students who participated in the projects and facilitators of two environmental organizations. We found diverse views with respect to environmental education, local environmental issues, and possible solutions. The Arab adults expressed stronger attachment to the local environment than the Jewish ones. The major projects’ goals according to the leaders included: (improving) knowledge, awareness, and environmental behavior of the students and their communities; an opportunity for taking part in community collaboration and action; an opportunity for multicultural interaction; and meaningful long‐term learning in the outdoors. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying the views of educators of diverse cultures in order to carry out future successful multicultural environmental projects. Our findings also suggest adopting critical pedagogy of place while designing and implementing such projects in sensitive regions such as Israel.

Constituting religious publics: The tale of two non-conformist churches in London

This article explores the constitution of religious spaces and publics in the city through case studies of two non-conformist protestant churches in London: City Temple and the Metropolitan Tabernacle. This approach allows us to unpack broad arguments about changing religious cultures in the modern city by highlighting the specificities of everyday religious cultures. Despite similar histories, from Victorian prominence to wartime destruction and post-war decline and revival, there are considerable differences between these communities. One presents itself as an inclusive site for multicultural interaction, while the other foregrounds their traditional doctrinal principles. The more traditional approach has been far more successful, offering a sense of stability, tradition and belonging, which is clearly attractive to many churchgoers. This is simultaneously a multi-ethnic gathering and a ‘mixophobic’ place, in which a clearly bounded identity community is established, and where there is little encounter with those of different views.

Adrift on the black Mediterranean diaspora: African migrant writing in Spain

Focusing on the strategies employed to recreate agency in the black diaspora in postcolonial Europe and taking at its basis recent narratives produced by African migrant writers in Spain – Cameroonians Inongo-vi-Makomé and Susan Akono, and Guinean Donato Ndongo – this paper explores the ways in which identity is reconstructed in diasporic situations, to answer questions such as what images of the self and the other are created and disseminated at a national level and in the wider context of globalization. Spain, the historically homogeneous out-migration country is transforming into a site of multicultural interaction as it becomes a destination for members of several diasporas, many with their own legacies of colonialism and racism. Due to its European Union status and growing presence in the world economy, the nation is participating in a global phenomenon in which immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees are looking towards the new Europe as an impenetrable fortress. This paper attempts to discuss these issues within the tangled web of forms of power and subjection exercised upon immigrants through Western imperialism.

Watchfully checking rapport with the Primary Child Health Care nurses - a theoretical model from the perspective of parents of foreign origin

BackgroundWorldwide, multicultural interaction within health care seems to be challenging and problematic. This is also true among Primary Child Health Care nurses (PCHC nurses) in the Swedish Primary Child Health Care services (PCHC services). Therefore, there was a need to investigate the parents' perspective in-depth.AimThe aim of the study was to construct a theoretical model that could promote further understanding of the variety of experiences of parents of foreign origin regarding their interaction with the PCHC nurses at PCHC services.MethodThe study used Grounded Theory Methodology. Twenty-one parents of foreign origin in contact with PCHC servicies were interviewed.ResultsIn our study parents were watchfully checking rapport, i.e. if they could perceive sympathy and understanding from the PCHC nurses. This was done by checking the nurse's demeanour and signs of judgement. From these interviews we created a theoretical model illustrating the interactive process between parents and PCHC nurses.ConclusionWe found it to be of utmost importance for parents to be certain that it was possible to establish rapport with the PCHC nurse. If not, disruptions in the child's attendance at PCHC services could result. PCHC nurses can use the theoretical model resulting from this study as a basis for understanding parents, avoiding a demeanour and judgements that may cause misunderstandings thus promoting high-quality interaction in PCHC services.

Enriched and empowered: nature’s influence on the psyche in two Afrikaans youth novels

In this article two Afrikaans youth novels are analysed in order to determine to what extent nature and elements of the natural environment can influence a child’s experience and view of life. In “Gamkab” (Betsie van Niekerk) and “Om ’n kierie te keer” (Pieter Pieterse) their natural surroundings expose the characters to challenges and adventures which form a context in which their ways of thinking are challenged and stimulated. This develops their ability to make decisions and solve problems, thereby broadening their life experience and developing their life skills. Theories on reader identification are used to argue that stories like these have the potential to expand and develop reader consciousness. These novels are of importance to the South African child of today, because they introduce various contemporary issues, such as entrepreneurship, social responsibility and multicultural interaction. In identifying with the characters, the reader is confronted with pertinent topics such as peer pressure, teenage insecurities and fears, and problematic family relationships. From the analysis of the novels, which focuses on the enriching and reinforcing contribution of nature, it is apparent that through nature’s challenges the characters are empowered to overcome their problems and improve their personal circumstances. This foreshadows the potential empowerment of the reader.

Business Communication Needs

How should we teach international business communication? What role can multiculturalism play in the business communication classroom? Can we identify a set of business communication requirements that are valid across different cultures? This article enters this discussion by presenting a small empirical study of the business communication needs expressed by postgraduate students in a North Cyprus university and comparing it to similar studies conducted in the United States and Singapore. The findings reveal some interesting correspondences between the needs expressed by students in these different countries. In addition, the multicultural environment of the North Cyprus university studied suggests that multicultural interaction increases students' sensitivity to the need for a nonethnocentric approach to international communication. The findings also indicate that respondents in multicultural settings may be more inclined to engage in groupthink because of their heightened awareness of cultural differences and their wish to avoid conflict.

Linking Distance and International Education: A Strategy for Developing Multicultural Competence among Distance Learners

How can educators help distance learners develop knowledge and skills required for the expanding globalization? Campus-based-education providers rely mainly on two educational strategies to help students develop competencies that allow for effective participation in diverse workplace settings: (a) multicultural or international curriculums and (b) encouraging interaction with students and faculty of diverse backgrounds on campus. Although the former can be adopted/adapted online, the latter exerts no affect on the exploding number of distance learners. Although distance-education curricula and virtual interactions can lay a valuable knowledge foundation, practice through face-to-face experience is vital for learning essential multicultural skills. Participation in international educational programs provides opportunities to test out, adjust, consolidate, and fully develop most aspects of multicultural competence that are encountered virtually. The challenge arising from the contradiction between the increasing commitment to campus diversity and the increasing demand for distance education can be resolved by enhancing international education.

National Multiculturalism and Transnational Migrant Politics: Australian and East Timorese

As globalization accelerates, transnational pressures play an increasingly important role in political culture. Cultural linkages created by migration can be sustained and reproduced, allowing migrant groupings to maintain a role as movers for social change. Such linkages open up possibilities for mutual engagement or dialogue across the external-internal boundaries of national statehood. These issues are illustrated by the relatively small East Timorese refugee community living in Australia, which has forged a distinctive diasporic identity and has successfully invoked a transnational sphere of politics around issues of self-determination, human rights and multiculturalism. In tandem, many non-Timorese have questioned Australian commitment to these principles within Australia as well as in relation to East Timor. This process of transnational contestation leads to the emergence of cross-national communities of conscience, and points to the possibility of multicultural interaction beyond national borders.

Multicultural Human Factors Concerns aboard the International Space Station Alpha

As we enter the 21st century, we can expect an increase of international spaceflight missions made up of crew members from different cultures. This study assesses the potential effects of cultural and interpersonal communication factors on crew interaction and crew operations for multicultural spaceflight crews. During international missions, crew members from different countries will be living and working together within the confined and isolated quarters of their spacecraft. On many International Space Station Alpha missions, a crew will consist of Canadian, European, Japanese, and U.S. personnel. Mission duration can range from 90 to 180 days for International Space Station Alpha and approximately two years for a round-trip manned mission to Mars. Effective and efficient multicultural crew interaction and operations will assume a major role in flight safety and mission success. By means of a questionnaire and personal interviews, information was gathered, indicating cultural characteristics considered to be most relevant for future spacefarers from the various nations involved in future International Space Station Alpha missions.

Work Cognitions in Multicultural Interaction

This study investigates the influence of ethnic cultural background and multicultural interaction on the structure of individual work cognitions. Subjects drawn equally from the Aboriginal, Anglo-Saxon, Chinese, and Lebanese Australian cultural communities responded to the Work Cognitions Questionnaire, an instrument designed to measure cultural and personal achievement goals and work values. The rank-ordering pattern of Cultural Goals, Personal Goals, and Work Values were positively correlated (all p <. 0001) within each cultural group. Multidimensional unfolding revealed that not only did the structure of achievement goals and work values vary between the four cultural groups, but that in environments where cultural groups interact, cognitive transition was found among individuals of minority ethnic groups who moved away from ethnic work norms, and moved toward work norms of the dominant cultural group. The variations in work cognition structures are explained in the basis of the culture-specific achievement structure, which effectively accounts for the dynamic of culture and cultural interaction at both the group and individual levels of cognitive functioning.

Maintenance of community languages in multicultural Australia

Abstract It has been argued (See Quinn, 1981b, for example) that the maintenance of community languages is incompatible with the ideal of multicultural interaction. The present paper argues against this position and asserts that in order to participate in and contribute to the development of a cohesive multicultural society, it is not necessary for the members of the minority communities to break the diglossic situation and become monolingual speakers of English. Ethnic groups will not lose their ethnicity merely by giving up their native languages. Since complete assimilation is impossible, the goal of a multicultural society should be not to dissolve the differences but to resolve them by appreciating the value of each cultural group. Members of the minority communities are fully aware of the fact that they must learn English to be able to enjoy equal opportunities in the public domain and to develop meaningful social interaction with the majority community. However, multicultural interaction cannot be meaningful unless it operates on the basis of an equal footing for the parties involved. The acceptance of community languages as valid means of communication, legitimate media of cultural transmission, and a useful national resource will go a long way towards raising the self‐esteem as well as the public image of the ethnic communities, and, consequently, improving the quality of multicultural interaction. The paper also argues that the major responsibility for the maintenance of community languages lies with the minority communities themselves.

Visible Minorities and Multiculturalism: Planned Social Change Strategies for the Next Decade

Several general objectives of multiculturalism as a government policy were realized during the first decade of its implementation but a great deal remains to be accomplished. This paper examines some of the issues related to multicultural interaction and co-operation at the individual, collective, and institutional levels, and several social change strategies are suggested to provide a better understanding of other ethnocultural groups. It is argued that different perceptions of a given problem, issue, or situation may exist and unless these differences are recognized initially, intended solutions may result in deleterious social consequences. In order to achieve a better cross-cultural understanding of our various ethnocultural groups in Canada, it is suggested that a Canadian Institute for Multiculturalism be established to address contemporary societal issues from a national perspective. Such an institute is seen as providing data most essential for future public policies which reflect both the diversity, in terms of regional and demographic variations, and the rapid social changes occurring in Canadian society.