Achieving Successful Communication in a Diverse Environment: Techniques that Work
- Luiza Dreasher (Iowa State University)
Abstract
Working with culturally diverse individuals can present us with many opportunities, but also poses many challenges. Leaming to communicate effectively with individuals from a diverse cultural background is essential if we are to function effectively in a cross-cultural environment. During this highly interactive session, participants will quickly learn to speak a foreign language (Redundancia) and then experience how communicating in a second language affects our thought patterns and communication styles. Participants will also be presented with a series of situations common to a culturally diverse workplace, such as employees having problems understanding non-English speaking colleagues or supervisors having problems ascertaining whether training materials are understood. The goal is to help participants learn effective techniques they can use to minimize the impact of language differences in the workplace.