The cross culture understanding has partly relating to language especially foreign language which is different culture.
Cross– Cultural are based on the work done looking at value differences between different cultures. Cross-cultural which is also used in a different sense is a field of study that looks at how people from differing cultural backgrounds interact, in similar and different ways among themselves, and how they endeavor to communicate across cultures.
DEFINITION CROSS- CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
Culture related to foreign language learning means “way of life “ or patterns of living “ and consists of elements such us verbal and non-verbal behavior, attitudes traits of people , standards (of success, beauty , intelligence), and values which are considered good or proper by the culture bearers.[1] So , in defining of cross-culture understanding that related basically to culture is concerned with understanding people with different cultural background , in order to be able to interact with them , work with them, or possibly move to and function in their country . Culture finds through expression the patterns of behavior decision making processes , moral , ethics, moral and values in which a society is based. Cultures are built up over many years and spring over from a country’s history , geography , sociology , language and religion.
In other words, Cross-cultur understanding simply refers to the basic ability of people to recognize, interpret and correctly react to people, incidences or situations that are open to misunderstanding due to cultural differences.
There are always similarities and differences I two different cultures. Similarities are usually easy to learn, though no two things belonging to two difference cultures can be exactly the same. For example. The expression “terima kasih” and “thank you” are similar in senses that both are use to express gratitude. However the meaning of “terima kasih” is more intense since Indonesians do not mention it if they do not think they owe somebody something..American say “thank you” on almost occasions. To most Indonesians, they say ‘’no thank you’’ or ’yes; thank you’ when they get an offer and spontaneously say “thank you” after they receive their change or receipt from the cashier . does it mean Indonesians never say” tidak, terima kasih”. They do have these expression , but again, it is different from “no, thank you”. Getting an offer to lunch or dinner, most Indonesian do accept it at the first bid. They say “tidak (sudah ) terima kasih, meaning that they are grateful for the host’s kindness” . only after the repetition of invitation, which might be regarded as a sign that offer is meant seriously, do they accept it.
Difference are more interesting to learn since they might be the source of serious misunderstandings.
THE OBJECTIVES OF CROSS- CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
Culture if translated bluntly into another culture, may be offensive to its people. Misunderstanding can easily arise as a result of not knowing the meaning of the facial or body gestures, in face to face interaction. Culture bound meanings are not limited to the spoken language. They also exist in the written language and foreign student are expected to know them. Otherwise , they may misinterpret the meaning of the text they have read. In short ,learning a foreign language cannot disregarded the learning of its culture. The fundamental intention of cross cultural understanding is to equip the learner with the appropriate skills to attain cross cultural understanding.
The culture problem above in studying cross cultural understanding which the objectives are to make us recognizing the concept of foreign culture in communication and to understand the relationship between learning a language and its culture . We need to make an responsive of another culture for fully effective communication, it needs to be current with cultural changes, and willing to adapt to these changes.
CROSS CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE-AWARENESS-SENSITIVITY AND COMPETENCE
Once the foundations of cross cultural understanding have been laid, the learner, either through continued training or experiences within the workplace, gradually attains a more acute appreciation of cultural differences. The different types of appreciation are cross cultural knowledge, cross cultural awareness, cross cultural sensitivity and cross cultural competence. Although all the terms may appear similar in meaning, subtle differences exist between them.
· 'Cross Cultural Knowledge' is critical to basic cross cultural understanding. Without it cross cultural appreciation cannot take place. It refers to a surface level familiarization with cultural characteristics, values, beliefs and behaviours.
· 'Cross Cultural Awareness' develops from cross cultural knowledge as the learner understands and appreciates a culture internally. This may also be accompanied by changes within the learner's behaviour and attitudes such as a greater flexibility and openness.
· 'Cross Cultural Sensitivity' is a natural by-product of awareness and refers to an ability to read into situations, contexts and behaviours that are culturally rooted and be able to react to them appropriately. An suitable response necessitates that the actor no longer carries his/her own culturally determined interpretations of the situation or behaviour (i.e. good/bad, right/wrong) which can only be nurtured through both cross cultural knowledge and awareness. In Other Words, Cross cultural sensitivity is a quality that enables people to achieve a multicultural mind-set. It can be defined as a “positive drive to accommodate, understand, and appreciate cultural differences in promoting an appropriate and effective behaviour in intercultural communication”. The continuum ethnocentrism-ethno relativism relates to the issue of intercultural sensitivity. Intercultural communication scholars have advanced many components of intercultural sensitivity. These include ethno relativism, which will be discussed in detail at the end of this text, respect for cultural differences, adaptability, perspective-taking, open-mindedness and acknowledgement of other’s needs.
· 'Cross Cultural Competence' is and should be the aim of all those dealing with multicultural clients, customers or colleagues. 'Competence' is the final stage of cross cultural understanding and signifies the actor's ability to work effectively across cultures. Cross cultural competency is beyond knowledge, awareness and sensitivity in that it is the digestion, integration and transformation of all the skills and information acquired through them, applied to create cultural synergy within the workplace. Intercultural communication competence has several definitions, the same way culture has. According to one of these definitions, intercultural communication competence is “the ability to effectively and appropriately execute communication behaviours to elicit a desired response in a specific environment” (Chen & Starosta 1998). Intercultural communication competence has four dimensions: personality strength, communication skills, psychological adaptation and cultural awareness. Examples of these might be the ability to stay positive in stressful situations, the skills to use appropriate nonverbal communication cues, the strength to survive culture shock and the ability to be aware of and maintain own cultural identity without jeopardizing intercultural relations.
Cross– Cultural are based on the work done looking at value differences between different cultures. Cross-cultural which is also used in a different sense is a field of study that looks at how people from differing cultural backgrounds interact, in similar and different ways among themselves, and how they endeavor to communicate across cultures. The fundamental intention of cross cultural understanding is to equip the learner with the appropriate skills to attain cross cultural understanding. Once the foundations of cross cultural understanding have been laid, the learner, either through continued training or experiences within the workplace, gradually attains a more acute appreciation of cultural differences. The different types of appreciation are cross cultural knowledge, cross cultural awareness, cross cultural sensitivity and cross cultural competence. Although all the terms may appear similar in meaning, subtle differences exist between them.
PREFERENCE
Internet sources :
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3495/is_3_46/ai_71969378/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_competence
http://www.diversophy.com/gsi/reviews/Intercultural_Understanding.doc
http://africa.eduprojects.net/understanding/media/Theory%20for%20teachers.doc
http://ayulittleone.blogsome.com/2005/12/13/the-value-of-cross-cultural-understanding/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-cultural
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-cultural_communication
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural-services/articles/cross-cultural-understanding.html
Library sources :
Soedjatmiko Wuri. 1987. Understanding American And Indonesian Cultures (A Teaching Manual For S1 English Department Students). Surabaya : Widya Mandala Catholic University Press.
[1] Wuri Soedjatmiko, Understanding American And Indonesia Cultures, Surabaya :Widya Mandala Catholic University Press,1987 ), p.3
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