Dear seniors,
While I was talking to a professional in the readiness development service, i.e., one who does Global Training, the individual said there are certain challenges, i.e., in terms of cultural communication being a barrier. Even though English is a universal language for training, the preference of the native language is a priority. How can we address these cultural communication barriers, and what strategies could be used to overcome such barriers and understand the customers very well?
Awaiting for inputs...
From India, Bengaluru
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While I was talking to a professional in the readiness development service, i.e., one who does Global Training, the individual said there are certain challenges, i.e., in terms of cultural communication being a barrier. Even though English is a universal language for training, the preference of the native language is a priority. How can we address these cultural communication barriers, and what strategies could be used to overcome such barriers and understand the customers very well?
Awaiting for inputs...
From India, Bengaluru
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Hi Shruthi,
Your post is not clear. What do you mean by Cultural Communication? Which native language(s) are you referring to? When you say customers, whom are you referring to? If a professional imparts training globally (as per your post), then what's the role of native language in that?
From India, Delhi
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621Your post is not clear. What do you mean by Cultural Communication? Which native language(s) are you referring to? When you say customers, whom are you referring to? If a professional imparts training globally (as per your post), then what's the role of native language in that?
From India, Delhi
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Hi Shruthi,
English is certainly the most popular business language as far as communication is concerned at the international level. However, it is not adequate by itself. There are cultural influences (having no bearing on English or any other language) that one has to understand to do successful business.
A concocted anecdote is often referred to about a popular soft drink with international standing. It is said to have taken place in Arabia. There are three slides in an advertisement with pictures and no language written to explain the same. A man is lying down in a hot desert and he is offered the soft drink. The second picture (to its right) shows the man drinking the soft drink. The third one (the next right) shows the man in a happy mood with arms raised and full of energy. The advertisement failed to give any positive impact.
The intended message is clear if you read from left to right. However, in Arabia, they read from right to left. As you ponder, you can imagine what a bad message the same pictures convey, as you see them from right to left.
Like this, one has to understand local cultural influences of nodding the head, shaking hands, talking with ladies, etc. A study of body language will help to mitigate the difficulties to a large extent.
V. Raghunathan
From India
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English is certainly the most popular business language as far as communication is concerned at the international level. However, it is not adequate by itself. There are cultural influences (having no bearing on English or any other language) that one has to understand to do successful business.
A concocted anecdote is often referred to about a popular soft drink with international standing. It is said to have taken place in Arabia. There are three slides in an advertisement with pictures and no language written to explain the same. A man is lying down in a hot desert and he is offered the soft drink. The second picture (to its right) shows the man drinking the soft drink. The third one (the next right) shows the man in a happy mood with arms raised and full of energy. The advertisement failed to give any positive impact.
The intended message is clear if you read from left to right. However, in Arabia, they read from right to left. As you ponder, you can imagine what a bad message the same pictures convey, as you see them from right to left.
Like this, one has to understand local cultural influences of nodding the head, shaking hands, talking with ladies, etc. A study of body language will help to mitigate the difficulties to a large extent.
V. Raghunathan
From India
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Dear Friend,
Certainly, English has become a language of communication at the global level. However, the local culture and language of the people attending the training play a significant role in facilitating the best communication and understanding. This is particularly relevant to the advanced understanding of English.
1) A trainer must possess knowledge of the local language, not just at a proficient level, but also be able to express themselves relatively well, incorporating some local words to enhance the training atmosphere.
2) A trainer should be familiar with cultural festivals and their significance. During the training, these festivals should be acknowledged for promoting cooperation and unity among humanity. Additionally, providing delicious foods during these occasions can further engage participants and lead to the success of the training program.
3) Challenging sessions should initially be conducted in the local language, gradually transitioning to the global language to ensure a positive response from participants.
4) While the native language may not be a top priority, utilizing it effectively is crucial for the success of the training program. It serves as the initial connection.
5) A trainer should establish relationships with local individuals within the organization to enhance the training experience. Learning from the successes and achievements of local people can also be beneficial for providing examples during training sessions.
Best of luck...
From India, Arcot
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Certainly, English has become a language of communication at the global level. However, the local culture and language of the people attending the training play a significant role in facilitating the best communication and understanding. This is particularly relevant to the advanced understanding of English.
1) A trainer must possess knowledge of the local language, not just at a proficient level, but also be able to express themselves relatively well, incorporating some local words to enhance the training atmosphere.
2) A trainer should be familiar with cultural festivals and their significance. During the training, these festivals should be acknowledged for promoting cooperation and unity among humanity. Additionally, providing delicious foods during these occasions can further engage participants and lead to the success of the training program.
3) Challenging sessions should initially be conducted in the local language, gradually transitioning to the global language to ensure a positive response from participants.
4) While the native language may not be a top priority, utilizing it effectively is crucial for the success of the training program. It serves as the initial connection.
5) A trainer should establish relationships with local individuals within the organization to enhance the training experience. Learning from the successes and achievements of local people can also be beneficial for providing examples during training sessions.
Best of luck...
From India, Arcot
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Dear Shruthi,
What the professional said is correct. One faces challenges while communicating in other countries. When I had been to Nigeria, I had this problem. We Indians speak a little faster, whereas Africans are slower. Indians emphasize the clarity of each word. Sometimes, I was unable to understand what they spoke.
Sometimes, Europeans do not understand what we speak. When we watch BBC news, their English is far clearer. In contrast, I found natives of the UK have a far stronger accent, making it difficult to comprehend at times.
What I have written is only about the language. There are a few other differences when dealing with nationals from Middle Eastern countries.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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What the professional said is correct. One faces challenges while communicating in other countries. When I had been to Nigeria, I had this problem. We Indians speak a little faster, whereas Africans are slower. Indians emphasize the clarity of each word. Sometimes, I was unable to understand what they spoke.
Sometimes, Europeans do not understand what we speak. When we watch BBC news, their English is far clearer. In contrast, I found natives of the UK have a far stronger accent, making it difficult to comprehend at times.
What I have written is only about the language. There are a few other differences when dealing with nationals from Middle Eastern countries.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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Hello Shruti, it is true that with globalization, diversity is posing a challenge to HR and more so to the training professionals. An audience of rainbow culture is a tough challenge for a trainer. I am no training expert, but I could visualize some problems as I once found it difficult to understand a European couple who did not know English. They were seeking guidance to go to a famous sightseeing place, but I could guide them properly because I understood the only name of the sightseeing location uttered by them. By uttering words like cab and some landmark buildings nearby, and finally explaining to the cab driver in Hindi about where the couple wanted to go. However, you cannot deliver training like that. If your problem is how to communicate to an audience in their native language other than English, I do not think there is any way but to employ a trainer who can speak the native language of the audience as well as English. This way, he can translate the training content, which is in English, into the native language, ensuring that the original meaning and context is not lost in translation. Employing a translator to translate the communication in English into the native language simultaneously before the audience will rob the training of its effect and the audience of their interest in training.
However, if you have no other option but to communicate in English to a linguistically diverse audience, you need to:
1) Study and understand the nuances of communication of the people of that particular culture - the way they greet, etc.
2) Try to know the ways of expressing key English phrases in the native language with their meaning.
3) Understand what kind of body language can express what in the native language as trainers use it in explaining processes and concepts, as the same body language may mean differently in different cultures.
4) Do more research about communication of that particular culture to ensure that the training does not end in a damp squib.
B. Saikumar
From India, Mumbai
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However, if you have no other option but to communicate in English to a linguistically diverse audience, you need to:
1) Study and understand the nuances of communication of the people of that particular culture - the way they greet, etc.
2) Try to know the ways of expressing key English phrases in the native language with their meaning.
3) Understand what kind of body language can express what in the native language as trainers use it in explaining processes and concepts, as the same body language may mean differently in different cultures.
4) Do more research about communication of that particular culture to ensure that the training does not end in a damp squib.
B. Saikumar
From India, Mumbai
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Respected senior,
In the post, due to confidentiality matters, I couldn't reveal everything. There is a challenge in the workplace that we need to handle, so here it goes - in the context of cultural communication, it is in reference to global training. When individuals conduct global training over calls, there is a gap in communication. How could we overcome it?
Native language is in reference to the language spoken by people across the globe in any region where the training is conducted. Customers, as I meant, are clients. Sorry for not being very clear...
From India, Bengaluru
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In the post, due to confidentiality matters, I couldn't reveal everything. There is a challenge in the workplace that we need to handle, so here it goes - in the context of cultural communication, it is in reference to global training. When individuals conduct global training over calls, there is a gap in communication. How could we overcome it?
Native language is in reference to the language spoken by people across the globe in any region where the training is conducted. Customers, as I meant, are clients. Sorry for not being very clear...
From India, Bengaluru
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Hi M. Shruthi,
It seems like a challenging situation if the training is conducted over calls. If I were the trainer, I would actually include a section (right at the beginning of the session) on cross-cultural sensitization. It could be something very simple but effective—like a story about how trainers were training over calls and there was a communication gap. You could actually derive the story from a situation that your trainers have actually encountered. Keeping things real always adds to the effectiveness of a training session.
The story could be followed by questions such as:
1. What would you do if you were being trained by a trainer from another culture and the trainer said something that offends you or doesn't make sense?
2. What do you think trainers should do if they get offended by something you say or are unable to understand your point of view?
If delivered sensitively, this could be the ice-breaker.
It would allow the trainers and the trainees to be on the same page as also enable them to evolve a method of communicating should either side detect some lapse in communication.
Hope this helps.
~ just another trainer
From Netherlands, undefined
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It seems like a challenging situation if the training is conducted over calls. If I were the trainer, I would actually include a section (right at the beginning of the session) on cross-cultural sensitization. It could be something very simple but effective—like a story about how trainers were training over calls and there was a communication gap. You could actually derive the story from a situation that your trainers have actually encountered. Keeping things real always adds to the effectiveness of a training session.
The story could be followed by questions such as:
1. What would you do if you were being trained by a trainer from another culture and the trainer said something that offends you or doesn't make sense?
2. What do you think trainers should do if they get offended by something you say or are unable to understand your point of view?
If delivered sensitively, this could be the ice-breaker.
It would allow the trainers and the trainees to be on the same page as also enable them to evolve a method of communicating should either side detect some lapse in communication.
Hope this helps.
~ just another trainer
From Netherlands, undefined
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CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION-p pt.ppt
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