• Cultural Misunderstandings

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Overview
Read a scenario and create a 1 page dialogue that shows the different perspectives between characters. Then, write 3 pages in which you analyze the dialogue and provide solutions for reducing misunderstandings.

According to Wilmot (1987), human communication has two components, content and relationship. Although the content aspect indicates the message itself, the relationship aspect is often reflected in the thoughts and feelings hidden in the message. You will be able to explain misunderstandings among people of different cultural backgrounds and how to reduce them.

Required Resources

The following resources are required to complete the assessment.

Capella Resources

Click the links provided to view the following resources:

USE THIS SENERIO

Mariko is a foreign student from Japan. About five months have passed since she entered university in the United States. Because she was a diligent student, she received "A" for all the classes she registered in her first semester. Mariko felt so sick one day, and visited Health Service Center of her university to see a doctor. Dr. Smith told Mariko that she had flu. But because her condition did not get any better, she went back to see the doctor a couple of times. When she visited the center today again; however, the receptionist told her to see Mrs. Thompson, the counselor of the center.

C: Hi, Mariko.
M: Hi, Mrs. Thompson.
C: How are you today? The doctor told me that you had flu. Have you gotten any better?
M: No, I still feel sick. I have a final exam in my speech communication class tomorrow, so I'm worried.
C: How long have you been in the States, Mariko?
M: About five months, Mrs. Thompson.
C: Could you tell me about your life since you came to the U.S.?
M: Well........I have been studying hard every day.
[Counselor's thoughts: Let's see... foreign student from Japan. It is not usually a good idea to ask Asian students direct questions.]
C: Hi, Mariko.
[Mariko's thoughts: Why do I have to see the counselor? I wonder if Dr. Smith is not on duty today.]
M: Hi, Mrs. Thompson.
[Counselor's thoughts: Dr. Smith told me that this student came back to the center again and again. He also told me that her physical condition wasn't serious at all. Before starting to counsel her, let me make sure she feels all right.]
C: How are you today? The doctor told me that you had flu. Have you gotten any better?
[Mariko's thoughts: I do not understand why she asks such a question. If I felt better, I wouldn't be here. Where is Dr. Smith?]
M: No, I still feel sick. I have a final exam in my speech communication class tomorrow, so I'm worried.
[Counselor's thoughts: O.K., she doesn't look so sick. But her voice is weak and she looks nervous. She must be a diligent student. Let me ask her simple questions, then she will feel relaxed.]
C: How long have you been in the States, Mariko?
[Mariko's thoughts: This is a waste of time. If I can't see the doctor, I want to go home and study.]
M: About five months, Mrs. Thompson.
[Counselor's thoughts: Usually, sojourners experience depression after spending a couple of months in the host culture. That may be her case. Anyhow, I need to know more about her lifestyle.]
C: Could you tell me about your life since you came to the U.S.?
[Mariko's thoughts: Oh, no. She started counseling me. I may be suffering from mental illness. I hope she will not tell anyone that I was here...]
M: Well, ........I have been studying hard every day.

Reference

Wilmot, W. W. (1987). Dyadic communication (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Random House.

Preparation

To prepare for this assessment, read the Cultural Misunderstandings Scenario linked in the Required Resources. (After reading this scenario, you will create your own dialogue.) Try to understand the "relationship" aspect of the two characters, Mariko and Mrs. Thompson. It is important to understand that the characters' thoughts described in the dialogue do not determine any specific characteristics of a certain culture. It merely indicates different perspectives presented by people from different cultural backgrounds. Here, different cultures could be represented by either "counselor culture" or "patient culture."

• Dialogue 1 portrays some cultural misunderstandings (misperceptions).

• Dialogue 2 includes Mariko's thoughts and the counselor's thoughts.

In each dialogue, "C" stands for the counselor, and "M" stands for Mariko.

Directions

• Write a 1 page dialogue focusing on cultural misunderstandings or misperceptions between a counselor and a client (or a doctor and a patient). Be sure to include the characters' thoughts in the dialogue, similar to the second version of the dialogue. Your dialogue must complete the following:

o Identify perspectives of people from different cultural backgrounds.

o Explain misunderstandings between people of different cultural backgrounds and how to reduce them.

o Describe how to reduce cultural misunderstandings between people of different cultural backgrounds.

o Explain dyadic theory of communication.

• In addition to the dialogue, write a 3 page paper explaining where the misunderstandings are between the two speakers in the dialogue and why the misunderstandings occurred. Then, provide suggestions for reducing these kinds of misunderstandings.

Additional Requirements

• Ensure your finished assessment is 3 pages in length, excluding the title page and references page. Also, submit your 1 page dialogue as part of this assessment.

• Include a title page and a references page.

• Include an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph.

• Include a minimum of two research resources.

• Follow APA guidelines for style and formatting.