Communicating With Diverse Cultures

Growing up I was around people of different cultures. I never paid any attention to how we communicated with one another. As I’ve worked for different child care centers and schools, I’ve come across many different cultures. I communicated with them in a way I think they might understand. We have a lady working at our school who is from Trinidad. I sometimes cannot understand what she is saying, so I always ask her to repeat it until I understand. When I talk to her I talk to her a little slower so she will understand what I am saying. There was one time she was trying to tell me something and I didn’t understand her. I was going to ask her to write it down, but she said that’s okay. I really wanted to know what she was trying to convey to me but I didn’t want to frustrate her.

Three strategies I can use to assist me in communicating with people of other cultures are as follows:

As I interact with them I will also learn from them. I want to ensure each time I communicate with them I understand their culture more.

Listen to them and ask them to clarify, before I respond, if I don’t understand what they are conveying.

Learn patience. It is difficult for them as it is for us. They have to adapt to learning about a new culture just as we have to.