5/20/2021 Cultural Miscommunication

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There are many communication patterns in the world and many of them could create miscommunication. Affective expressions, gestures, manners, and personal space are some patterns and in one culture have a meaning but in another country are so different. These cultural miscommunications would create fun situations or embarrassing situations.

One story that I loved because illustrates cultural miscommunication was written for the Mexican journalist Jorge Ibargüengoitia when he described the foreign bathroom and the descriptions for using water. For example, the English language uses the letter “C” for cold water and “H” for hot water but for Spanish speakers use the letter “C” means hot (caliente, in Spanish) and letter “F” for cold (fría, in Spanish) and in other countries uses color then red is for hot and blue is for cold. The problem was solved but what happened when you have more than one handles in the bathtub. He had one experience about this when he visited Madrid. He wanted to take a shower and he had a bathtub with 6 shower handles; 3 were red and 3 were blue. He opened all the handles and he had water for different places but all the water was cold then he turned around and he saw two bottoms one was red and the other was blue. He only pushed but when he could see the images for the bottom was very late he pushed the bottom for S.O.S. He wore quickly his clothes and he could not take the shower because he had to wait for the room service to explain the situation.


This is a fun story about misinterpretation but what happened when this miscommunication happens in your ESL classroom and you offend one student because you hug them, kiss or shake their hands, and in their culture is very offensive. I am Mexican and Mexicans always give hugs and most when people are important to you. For this reason, is important to know the culture of your students, let your students share their culture, and feel welcome in the classroom.


References

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2766861-la-casa-de-usted-y-otros-viajes


Comments

  1. Zaida ADMMay 21, 2021 at 9:04 PM

    Each anecdote we read is funnier than the last. Poor friend who couldn't take a bath.

    In Venezuela it's very common in the villages to point with your mouth and it is usually a reason for misunderstandings because when you point with your mouth it seems that you are blowing a kiss or that you want to kiss someone. We are also very effusive with expressions of love and that is something that can be very uncomfortable for other cultures.

    Understanding our differences is a fundamental key to overcoming communication barriers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karina Rodriguez NietoMay 22, 2021 at 7:03 PM

      Wow, it is wonderful to know because I never heard about it. It is good to know it and it is necessary to comprehend our differences.

      Delete

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