Self and Identity

Intercultural communication is complicated, messy, and at times contradictory. Although much research has been done with the idea of competent communication within one's own structural culture, Bennett has proposed three ways to cultivate intercultural communication competence (ICC). They are

• to foster attitudes that motivate us
• discover knowledge that informs us
• develop skills that enable us

To foster attitudes that motivate us, we must develop a sense of wonder about a culture. This sense of wonder can lead to feeling overwhelmed, humbled, and awed This sense of wonder may correlate to a high tolerance for uncertainty, which can help us turn potentially frustrating experiences we have into teachable moments. Maybe getting lost while trying to follow Google maps lead to meeting a family that helped you practice your language skills.

Discovering knowledge that informs us is another step that can make us more motivated and competent. As we discover that there are differences in how people attend to and perceive their world, we learn of their value orientations and cultural dimension choices. Suddenly there is no right or wrong between us, just different choices. Different choices become normal and natural.

Developing skills that enable us is another part of ICC. Some skills important to ICC are the ability to emphasize, accumulate cultural information, listen, resolve conflict, and manage anxiety. You are already developing a foundation for these skills by reading this book. Contact alone does not increase intercultural skills; there must be more deliberate measures taken to fully capitalize on your experiences. While research now shows that intercultural contact does decrease prejudices, this is not enough to become interculturally competent. Reflection can also help us process the rewards and challenges associated with developing ICC. We should be ‘thinking under the influence'.