The Assignment
First, review the concepts you have learned about Interpersonal Communication in Chapters 1 through 9 in the Wood (2020) textbook including:
Identity, Perceptions, Verbal/Non-Verbal Communication, Mindful Listening, Managing Emotions, Communication Climate, and Managing Conflict.
Now, choose a particular culture whose members tend to communicate very differently from members of your culture. You can choose a culture with which you have some experience/interaction or one that you’re interested in exploring.
In a 500-word essay, explain how you would participate in a healthy and positive friendship with a person from this different culture. You may use an actual friendship in your life, or you may answer this prompt hypothetically (in other words: imagine that you had a friendship with a person from this different culture.)
Compose a well-organized five-paragraph essay (1 introduction paragraph, 3 body paragraphs, and 1 conclusion paragraph) that clearly applies key concepts about friendship from Chapter 10 and key concepts about communication from Chapters 1 – 9.
- Compare and contrast the interpersonal communication patterns of your own culture and the interpersonal communication patterns often held by people in this other cultural group that you have chosen.
- Explain how you would adjust your own interpersonal communication habits to include this person in your own life as a friend.
- What are some things you would do (concepts that you would apply) to best communicate your own ideas, wants, and needs with a person from this particular culture?
- What are some things you would do (concepts that you would apply) to better understand and honor your friend’s ideas, wants, and needs?
- Explain why dual perspective, as described by Wood (2020, pp. 38-39) is an important part of this process for you.