Intercultural Communication E-Portfolio: Module 2 and 5 Project

This e-portfolio showcases a student's exploration of intercultural communication, focusing on their self-awareness, curiosity, and respect for diverse cultures. The project includes reflections on group work, particularly a virtual project, highlighting the importance of effective global communication systems. The student analyzes their strengths and weaknesses in intercultural interactions, emphasizing the need for cultural awareness, language proficiency, and technological literacy. The e-portfolio details the student's development plan, including areas for improvement such as time management and listening skills, and strategies for enhancing virtual intercultural collaboration, such as establishing clear objectives and communication frameworks. The student conducted an interview with a Canadian employee to understand the challenges of intercultural communication in the workplace. References to relevant academic literature are also included. The student aims to improve intercultural communication and collaboration in virtual environments.

qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqw
ertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwert
yuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui
opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiop
asdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasd
fghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh
jklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjkl
zxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc
vbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvb
nmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm
qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqw
ertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwert
yuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui
opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiop
asdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasd
fghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh
jklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcv
Intercultural communication

E-Portfolio
1

Presentation/tab
title
Module
number
Required artefacts
1. About me Module 2 Introduction about myself:
I am an intercultural communicator
having knowledge and specialisation in
collaborating with people across
different cultures.
Personal learning goals:
 Strengthening time management
skills
 Convincing client coordination
 Ensuring organisational growth
by bonding with more people
across different cultures
Cultural Self-analysis:
 Increasing my strengths will give
more value to my clients
 I am culturally aware and I know
how to deal with different
cultured people and value their
perspectives
2. Reflections on
Group Work
Module 5
(Virtual Project)
Reflection:
In order to ensure successful
collaboration, it is important to adopt
2

effective global communication systems
which can help in facilitating
communication process between
individuals (Jandt, 2017).
Evidence of participation:
By comparing my last interview
experience with this current one, I have
understood that the establishment a
proper virtual environment is necessary
through which intercultural
communication and interaction can be
influenced. While interviewing the
candidate in the virtual environment, I
could assess that intercultural and
technological literacy is very important
and they play a much pivotal role in the
communication process. It is essential to
have bilingual or multilingual
proficiencies as well as proper
knowledge about the technological
mediums used for communication.
Reflection:
Intercultural collaboration can be
facilitated if the diverse attitudes and
thoughts of the people can be
acknowledged and understood (Oetzel,
2017).
Evidence of participation:
3

I have learnt some foreign languages like
French, German and Spanish which
helped me in communicating with the
interviewee in this current interview.
However, I felt that a significant cultural
pathway should be maintained while
using single medium language for
communication like English.
Reflection:
I have learnt from my previous
experience that it is quite likely that the
person on the other side has a different
attitude and mindfulness due to the
difference in his/her culture and values.
Evidence of participation:
In my current interview, I have used this
knowledge and tried to understand the
interviewee’s perceptions, values and
traits which helped me to communicate
and collaborate with him in the virtual
environment. I have paid immense
attention on intercultural collaboration
with my interviewee on the virtual
environment by using my learning and
knowledge on cultural etiquettes, cultural
studies and cultural awareness.
4

3. Connections Self-awareness: I have understood that
the importance of intercultural
communication and collaboration within
a virtual environment.
Curiosity and respect: I have to respect
the respective cultural values and faiths
of the others to collaborate smoothly.
Insights: Having better communication
plan, maintaining cultural etiquettes and
building effective connection with the
people across different cultures
Growth and development: I have
analysed different case studies of
intercultural communication and
acknowledged feedback from the peers
and my seniors regarding how I can
interact with the others and facilitate
collaboration.
4. Development Plan Module 5
Reflection of development:
The new learning has very much helped
me in enhancing and improving
intercultural communication in the
virtual environment. Since I have learnt
different foreign languages, I could
easily communicate with the person in
the interview in the language in which he
was comfortable thereby understanding
his inner thoughts and perceptions
clearly. The use of technology in virtual
communication has been improved
which assisted me effectively in
conducting the current interview process.
5

My technical knowledge has supported
me a lot in using computerised software
and collaborative tools. By maintaining
cultural etiquettes and showing respect to
the cultural values of the interviewee, I
have succeeded in building up a smooth
and healthy intercultural collaboration
with him. Moreover, I can easily
negotiate with the foreign clients which
can increase my efficiencies in virtual
intercultural collaboration.
In order to carry out intercultural
communication or collaboration in
virtual environment in the future, I need
to be adopt some best and improved
practices such as creating huge
knowledge space, managing time zones,
set prior objectives and targets, using
purposeful agendas and establishing an
effective communication plan. Having a
clear purposeful agenda will help me to
set my objectives and targets for the
intercultural collaboration. A proper
communication framework will enable
me to decide my priorities and activities
in a systematic manner and as such, I can
be able to manage my time zones
effectively. Knowledge space will help
me seek more knowledge and
understanding thus facilitating the
interview process in the future. Hence all
these practices or strategies will prove to
be quite beneficial for me in the future
while conducting intercultural
6

collaboration and communication with
the different cultured individuals in the
virtual environment.
Throughout the entire course, I have
ensured my gradual growth and
development which can help me to carry
out intercultural collaboration in virtual
environment in the future. There are four
areas through which I can evaluate my
growth and development such as:
Reflection: Intercultural collaboration is
referred to as the interaction and
communication carried out between two
or more people across different cultures
(Neuliep, 2017). Throughout my course,
I have understood that in order to make
the intercultural collaboration successful
and effective, it is important to set some
prior targets and purposes so as to move
towards the right direction of interaction
during the interview process in the future
(Koester & Lustig, 2015). I have also
understood that in-depth technical
knowledge is necessary to develop skills
and specialisation in the area which will
help me in using the technological
mediums for collaboration.
Discover: During the course, I have
discovered that maturity level of
communication is of high importance as
it will help me in understanding and
acknowledging the core purpose and
agenda of the collaboration. It is
important to set clear aims and
7

objectives for intercultural
communication otherwise the overall
collaboration process would not be
fruitful (Piller, 2017). The cultural values
and practices of the other persons should
be given importance and respected
thoroughly during the intercultural
collaboration. This will help me in
building up a smooth relationship and
negotiation with the clients. I have also
discovered that the best practices that
have been reflected upon should be
incorporated properly so that the
collaboration can be done with utmost
efficacy.
Seeking: I need to develop my
understanding and knowledge on the
actual purpose of the intercultural
collaboration which would influence my
communication and interaction with my
interviewees in the future. Proper
analysis of the subject matter of the
collaboration should be made so that the
collaboration process can be facilitated. I
have to study more books and acquire
optimum knowledge and understanding
on the use of different technological
mediums which would enable me to
tackle any kind of technology
appropriately in the collaboration
process. Moreover, it is important to
develop ideas about different cultures
and their respective practices, norms and
regulations which would be beneficial
8

for me to negotiate and motivate the
interviewees while communicating with
them (Sorrells, 2015).
Engaging: Studying about the
individuals’ cultures before the
collaboration would thus prove to be
quite beneficial for me. I will implement
my learning and knowledge in using the
technological equipment while carrying
out effective communication and
interaction with the individuals during
the intercultural interviews.
 Development plan (table below)
 Summary of the interview
In the overall interview process, it has
been understood that intercultural
collaboration is important for reducing
the geographical barriers across different
nations. The interview has been
conducted with a Canadian employee
working in an organization where he has
to interact with different other colleagues
belonging to different cultures. In the
interview process, I have asked him
questions relating to this aspect in order
to seek his perceptions and
understanding his perspectives regarding
the importance of intercultural
communications within virtual platform
and its associated difficulties. Since the
interviewee belonged to Quebec where
9

he generally speaks French, it was a bit
difficult for me to communicate and
collaborate with him in English
language. Although I learnt French
language, I was not much proficient in
delivering the purpose of my questions
clearly to him due to which I had to ask
the questions in English. Thus the
feedbacks obtained from the interviewee
were not as per expected.
 Interview questions:
a. Why do you think intercultural
communication is necessary for
collaboration within the workplace?
b. Do you think that exchange of ideas
and perceptions can be done efficiently
with the help of intercultural
collaboration?
c. What is the prime benefit of carrying
out intercultural communication in
enhancing cultural morality and ethics?
d. How intercultural communication in
virtual environment can empower the
collaboration by reducing geographical
barriers of the nations?
e. What sort of difficulties you are likely
to face while conducting intercultural
communication and collaboration with
your team members in the workplace?
10

Development plan
Areas for
development
Issues faced Further
recommendations
Who/what will
monitor?
Time required
Time
management
I could not
complete the
overall
interview
process with the
Canadian
employee
within the
stipulated
timeframe
between 9 and
12 weeks.
Various
important
aspects
regarding the
organization’s
expectations on
intercultural
communication
have not been
acknowledged
during the
interview
process due to
my lack of time
management
skills. Thus the
desired
I need to
undertake more
such interviews
and learn from my
seniors regarding
how to manage
time properly and
conduct all the
necessary related
activities of the
interviews within
the stipulated time
frame.
My senior
manager
3 weeks
11

outcomes could
not be obtained.
Listening skills I faced troubles
while
interacting with
the interviewee
as I am poor in
listening
patiently to the
statements of
the others.
I need to listen to
many audios to
understand what is
being depicted.
Moreover, clarity
of information can
be obtained
through building
more patience
myself 4 weeks
Communication Although I
learnt French
language before
taking the
interview with
the employee
belonging to
Quebec,
Canada, yet I
faced issues
while
communicating
with him as I
was not much
proficient in
using the
language of
frequent basis.
Hence our
interactions
lacked clarity
which led to
I need to practice
speaking in French
language as well
as other foreign
languages on
frequent basis so
that this problem
can be resolved in
the future.
I will conduct a
measurement
assessment
through which I
can measure
and monitor my
skills in the
foreign
languages
5 weeks
12

unfavourable
outcomes.
13

References
Jandt, F. E. (2017). An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global
community. Sage Publications.
Koester, J., & Lustig, M. W. (2015). Intercultural communication competence: Theory,
measurement, and application. International journal of intercultural relations, 48, 20-21.
Neuliep, J. W. (2017). Intercultural communication: A contextual approach. Sage
Publications.
Oetzel, J. G. (2017). Effective intercultural workgroup communication theory. The
International Encyclopedia of Intercultural Communication, 1-5.
Piller, I. (2017). Intercultural communication: A critical introduction. Edinburgh University
Press.
Sorrells, K. (2015). Intercultural communication: Globalization and social justice. Sage
publications.
14