Differences in Cultural Communication
Before we can adequately educate and guide children of diverse backgrounds, it is crucial to first be aware of the various communication patterns to better understand habits and cultural nuances of the students we serve!
Verbal & Non-verbal Communication Differences:
- Physical Touch
- Eye Contact
- Proximity
- Tone/Volume
Verbal and Non-verbal Communication Differences Between Cultures
Click on the "+" to learn about each culture's communication styles
- Physical Touch: minimal physical contact, comfortable with handshakes as greetings
- Eye Contact: eye contact is expected and often maintained
- Proximity: prefer to have adequate personal space in social situations
- Tone/Volume: tend to have higher volumes than some other cultures, silence in social situations may be uncomfortable
*Note: With the United States being a “melting pot” of cultural backgrounds, differences between Americans will vary depending on upbringing and cultural influences from their environment!
- Physical Touch: comfortable with physical contact – does not hold romantic connotations
- Eye Contact: more expressive with facial and hand gestures, eye contact can vary between minimal to prolonged
- Proximity: less desire for interpersonal space, doesn’t mind close proximity; large distances seen as unfriendly
- Tone/Volume: depending on their country of origin, tone and volume can vary between low/quiet to higher volumes compared to Americans
- Physical Touch: physical contact is rare and may be non-existent in social situations
- Eye Contact: often shows less emotion, eye contact longer than a few seconds may be seen as disrespectful
- Proximity: prefer to maintain greater social distance compared to Americans & Hispanics/Latinos
- Tone/Volume: common to speak in a lower tone/volume compared to other cultures
- Physical Touch: physical contact is common in social situations, often prefer to handshake as a greeting
- Eye Contact: direct eye contact is expected; however, depending on the country of origin, prolonged eye contact with a person of the opposite sex may be interpreted as inappropriate
- Proximity: comfortable with minimal interpersonal space, tend to leave more space between others when attempting to maintain eye contact
- Tone/Volume: tend to have higher volumes and express more emotion while speaking