Yoonsuk Jung, Blog #3

The world is getting smaller. People can go anywhere anytime when they need. However, this new trend brings about intercultural communication problems. When people contact with unfamiliar culture, language, and society, each person has a different viewpoint. It can lead among the people to have a negative gap. After reading "Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks", I realized that we should be careful of understanding those different culture and language when we communicate with foreign people. In addition, there are 5 typical stumbling blocks such as Language, Nonverbal Signs and Symbols, Preconceptions and Stereotypes, The Tendency to Evaluate, and High Anxiety.
To me, the most impressed section from the article was "Preconceptions and Stereotypes" because my preconception often interrupted communication with foreign people. About 4 years ago, I went to a language school in Canada to study English for 6 months, and I was eager to improve my English skills within my limited periods. Therefore, I intentionally avoided meeting some of my Latino friends who are my classmates in the same language school because they talked a lot during the class, came to class late, and always seemed interested in party and girls. These situations made me have some prejudices such as Latino prefers party to study, and they hang out with friends to drink. One day, I overheard my two classmates' conversation in a hallway and one of them was from Mexico and another from Costa rica. They talked about whether they would invite me or not on a birthday party because they did not want to interrupt my study and make me waste time. At the moment, I realized how wrong idea I had about them. They cared about my situation and considered me their best friend. I regretted my negative attitude to them judging from few cases without knowing their kindness and their culture. I came close to them and apologized my behaviors. As a result, I could overcome my bias of Latino and make a strong friendship with them.