50 Activities for Achieving Cultural Competence

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Mixed Messages

JonamayLambert,LambertAssociates

HoffmanEstates,Illinois,USA

andSelmaMyers,InterculturalDevelopment,Inc.

SanDiego,California,USA

Purpose

• To increase knowledge about different communication patterns based on culture.

• To reduce the possibility of stereotyping or misinterpreting another’s behavior.

Targetaudience

The target audience is individuals and groups who will be working with others from different

cultures and who are interested in the impact of culture on communication. The activity is

most effective with 15 to 20 participants.

Time

20 minutes

Materialsandenvironment

• A set of instruction slips

• One copy of Handout 1, “Verbal and Nonverbal Differences Across Cultures” for each

participant

• A room where participants can work in pairs

Procedure

1. Divide participants into four equal groups. Name the groups A, B, C, and D.

2. Introduce the activity by telling the participants that they will be engaged in a brief activ-

ity that will be enjoyable and informative. Give to each of the four groups a corresponding

instruction slip. (Group A receives the Group A Instructions, Group B the Group B

Instructions, etc.) Tell them to read their instruction slip, but not to share the information

with anyone else.

3. Ask all participants to stand with their group.

50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetency

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4. Instruct As to find a B partner and Cs to find a D partner, and then to find a space in the

room where the pair can stand and carry on a 2-minute conversation using the instructions

they were given.

5. After 2 minutes, ask them to be seated.

6. Ask them to use one word to describe their feelings. Put the answers on a flipchart.

7. Ask one participant from each group to read the instruction slips they were given.

8. Ask the following questions:

• “What was going on?”

• “How easy or difficult was it for you to follow your instructions?”

• “What surprised you?”

• “How did you interpret the behavior of your partner during the activity? Did the per-

son whose partner looked away feel that his or her partner couldn’t be trusted, wasn’t

interested, or perhaps was bored?”

• “What assumptions might we make about people having different communication styles

from our own?”

• “What might be the result if these differences continue to be misunderstood?”

• “What real-life situations from your own life does this bring to mind?”

• “What does this activity tell you about overcoming communication barriers and deal-

ing with communication differences on the job?”

• “What learnings can you take away from this activity?”

9. Distribute Handout 1, “Verbal and Nonverbal Differences Across Cultures” and review it

with the participants.

Debrief

Lead any further discussion and close by stressing that communication has always been

complex and extremely important. However, today’s technology makes it even more so.

With the Internet, teleconferencing, and the ability to pick up the phone and call anywhere in

the world, we have to be more aware of differences in verbal and nonverbal communication.

It is important to recognize that many cultures have their own rules and communication

styles; learning about cross-cultural communication is a necessity, because the more we

know about communication, the less we will offend, misunderstand, or embarrass others or

ourselves.

MixedMessages

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Reproducedfrom50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetence,byJonamayLambert,

SelmaMyers,andGeorgeSimons,editors.Amherst,MA:HRDPress,2000,2008

[InstructionSlips]

Instructions: This page of instructions should be copied and cut into strips. Make enough copies

so that each participant can be given one slip.

GroupAInstructions

• Avoideyecontactwhenspeakingtoyourpartner.

• Touchyourpartnerasyouspeak. 

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GroupBInstructions

• Standaboutsixinchesclosertoyourpartnerthanyounormallywould.

• Pointatyourpartneroftenwhileyouarespeaking.

GroupCInstructions

• Speakmoreloudlythanyounormallywould,andinterruptyourpart‐

nerfairlyfrequently.

• Giveyourpartnersignsofapproval(suchastheU.S.gesture“okay,”

the“thumbsup”signal,andthe“V” forvictorysign).

GroupDInstructions

• Speakmoresoftlythanyounormallywould,anddon’tinterruptyour

partner.

• Usealotofgestureswhenyouarespeaking.

MixedMessages



Reproducedfrom50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetence,byJonamayLambert,

SelmaMyers,andGeorgeSimons,editors.Amherst,MA:HRDPress,2000,2008

[Handout1–page1]

Verbal and Nonverbal

Differences Across Cultures

Sample cultures used: Asian, Hispanic, mainstream American, Middle Eastern, Northern

European, and British

Eye contact

Culture tip: It is not appropriate to match

behavior. Observe and learn.

Asian: Minimal

Hispanic: Very direct

Mainstream American: Moderate

Middle Eastern: Very direct

Northern European: Moderate

British: Moderate

Proximity

Culture tip: Tolerate the difference in

distance.

Asian: 3 feet or more

Hispanic: 0 inches – 18 inches

Mainstream American: 18 inches – 3 feet

Middle Eastern: 0 inches – 18 inches

Volume

Culture tip: Match the speaker’s tone.

Asian: Soft spoken

Hispanic: Soft spoken

Mainstream American: Louder than average

Middle Eastern: Louder than average

Interruption

Asian: Extremely rude

Mainstream American: Comfortable

Middle Eastern: Comfortable

Hand Gestures

Pointing is considered poor etiquette in most

cultures.

Beckoning

Mainstream Americans tend to beckon others

with the index finger; this is a gesture that

many groups, particularly Mexicans, Filipinos,

and Vietnamese, consider offensive.