Cross-Cultural Communication i
Communication is the act of sharing information. Most of the time it involves the use of oral or written symbols and on other occasions, it implicates various types of nonverbal symbols such as body language. Communication is the medium for instruction, assessment, family and public relations, and group interactions. The population of the United States is currently experiencing radical demographic changes. According to recent statistics, one American in four currently defines himself or herself as non-white. By the year 2010, because of higher birth rates and immigration trends, non-whites are expected to constitute more than one third of the American people. These demographic trends also reflect in schools: approximately one in four children were minority students in 1984 and by 2020, that figure will increase to nearly one in two. By the year 2050, the average U.S. resident will trace his or her descent to Africa, Asia, the Hispanic world, the Pacific Islands, the Middle East almost anywhere but white Europe. Students with different cultural norms are at risk if teachers have little knowledge, sensitivity or appreciation of the diversity in communication styles. Such teachers may perceive differences as problems and respond t
In order to remove the cross-cultural communication barriers, instructors should remove language which appears to stereotype students. This can be done by avoiding racial identification or words, images and situations that suggest that all or most members of a racial group are the same. For example, "the articulate African American student" implies that African American students typically have low verbal skills. Additionally, by being aware of rules for attentiveness and the distance between speakers during a dialogue, a reduction of violations of cultural rules during discussions and conversations can happen. Furthermore, teachers should watch out for racial jokes among students because ethnic humor is often perceived by many groups as evidence of racial prejudice. As diversity increases in the nation's educational institutions, faculty and staff must become more knowledgeable about the assumptions, characteristics, and norms of a range of cultures. These challenges will occur in every dimension of school life from the curriculum to the communication that occurs in classrooms. The failure of many schools to take cross cultural communication issues into account will contribute to school related problems experienced by specific groups of children. The language and communication norms among African American males, particularly those of lower socioeconomic status, are related, at least in part, to these problems. For instance, they will use their own jargon to mark their masculinity and rebelliousness against white standards. Thus, while the use of Black slang by African American males may be perceived as "hip" by peers, it is viewed by teachers, all too often and incorrectly, as indicators of a slow learning, violent, undisciplined, and offensive individual. The current crisis of African A
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1217
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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