Cultural Communication

I have come to acknowledge that I communicate with others differently, including those who are from different cultural groups.

I find that I speak with young children in a manner of respect and understanding of taking the time to learn their cultural language. I speak with young children in a tone that is calm and soothing. I speak with children at their level to show them I respect what they have to share and express towards others. I validate their feelings, their thought process, and their cultural differences from my own when I engage with the children in an early childhood program.

I find myself speaking with families in a manner of respect and understanding by learning about their culture from the family. I want to understand how they view the world around them and how their communication skills are different from my own culture’s communication skills. Once I have learned about their cultural communication skills, I will be able to incorporate these skills when connecting with these families. I will be able to put my personal beliefs, stereotypes, and prejudices towards other cultures aside to communicate with them at a respectful manner (O’ Hair & Wiemann, 2012, pp. 44-45).

I speak with colleagues and other early childhood professionals in a respectful manner and learn through their communication skills they have developed over years within the early childhood field. I try to follow their example of showing the other person I am solely focused on the conversation with them and I will not be distracted by outside sources. In each instant of communicating with others, I do find myself being respectful towards the information that needs to be shared between individuals and/or groups of people.

The strategies I have discovered that I have helped my communication be effective with others is understanding the platinum rule. The platinum rule is to treat others in a manner they would like to be treated (Beebee, S.A., Beebee, S.J., & Redmond, 2011, p. 114). Once a person is able to think and feel what another person thinks and feels is to go beyond by taking positive action towards others in response to empathic feelings (Beebee, S.A., Beebee, S.J., & Redmond, 2011, p. 114).

I have learned about the importance of intercultural communication that occurs between individuals or groups from different cultures communicate It is important to know that every person will communicate different amount of information with different cultures compared to their own cultures. The process is to listen and respond to people from different cultural backgrounds that can be challenging for all. Many misunderstandings and mistrust can affect daily communication with others from different cultural backgrounds (Beebee, S.A., Beebee, S.J., & Redmond, 2011, p. 97).

I have learned to become sympathetic towards others from different cultural backgrounds by understanding why they think and act in the manner they do from their perspective. As an early childhood professional, I think it is important to gain a sense of understanding of different cultural backgrounds of how they respond in various situations because they might not be the same way I would respond in the same situation. To respect these changes and differences will help early childhood professional’s communicate effectively with individuals and cultural groups that are different from their own cultural background.  

References:

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication and diversity: Adapting to others. In Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

O’Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Perceiving the self and others. In Real communication: An

introduction (2nd ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.