Intercultural Communication Personal

To begin, I will make you aware that I was a pretty sheltered girl in grade school: I went to a Catholic school, so just about all of my friends and people I knew were Catholic. However, in high school I met people with many different religion backgrounds: Jews, Mormons, Lutherans, and Atheists. My freshman year I thought it was a little odd the different holidays we would all be able to take off due to our religion. But I thought it was so neat: the variety of celebrations, typically all for the same purpose. 

Anyway, not only did intercultural communication enter my life by becoming friends with people of many different faiths, but I basically dove into another culture, taking every opportunity I could to learn from it. I am referring to a relationship I had in high school; I dated a Jewish guy for two and a half years in high school and felt it necessary to take every opportunity to learn about Judaism since they are the Catholic's roots. However, at times I did feel a little uncomfortable during Passover or batmizvahs when I had myself convinced I was the only person present not understanding the Hebrew being spoken. I would often ask my boyfriend what was being said, and of course a verbatim translation was not accurate because "language differences can go much deeper than simple translation ambiguities" (Tubbs & Moss 323). Ultimately, even though I felt a little uneasy at times I knew the importance of our successful intercultural communication, especially since Catholics and Jews are often seen on different spectrums of things. This was a great experience of intercultural communication in my life. 

Intercultural Communication Applied

Our world today

 "is characterized by an ever growing number of contacts resulting in communication between people with different linguistic and cultural backgrounds" (1st website). The article, Stereotyping and Intercultural Training, suggests the importance of learning about one another's cultures in a positive way to help communicate. 

To begin, the article notes that it is essential for people to make generalizations about other people's cultures to properly communicate with one another. However, the article specifically states that this is very different from stereotyping, which normally constructs generalizations about cultures and groups through a negative window. 

Stereotyping and Intercultural Training stresses "Intercultural awareness training does provide conclusions on cultures or nationalities but it does not stereotype," (2nd Website). Therefore, intercultural training provides people with social norms that can set certain standards for cultures. They can prepare people to be ready to shake one's hand or bow, depending on which culture they are in. Moreover, in order to improve intercultural communication, intercultural training observes people, pinpoints commonalities, and draws conclusions base on the commonalities. "For example, an intercultural researcher or trainer working and/or living in Kuwait is able to make a few accurate, but at the same time, general statements about the Kuwaitis. They may therefore be able to make the generalizations that one should be aware of gender roles, that to do business building a personal relationship is crucial, that if you have a good network of contacts this should be used, and that decision making can be a long slow process that ultimately always rest at top of an organization" (2nd Website). Clearly, this example exemplifies the necessity of intercultural training's assistance of intercultural communication which will help people survive visiting or moving into other cultures. 

1st website: http://www.immi.se/intercultural/ 

2nd website:http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural-services/articles/intercultural-training-stereotypes.html

Definitional Intercultural Comm

Due to the increase in intercultural communication it is essential to determine the different dimensions of cultural differences. 

First, a central dimension that is measured between cultures is individualism or collectivism. Individualist societies have the tendency for "people in a given culture to value 'individual identity over group identity, individual rights over group rights, and individual achievements over group concerns" (Tubbs & Moss 317). For example, Tubbs and Moss recognizes the Unite State, Australia, Great Britain, and Canada as individualist cultures. On the other side, "collectivism has been defined as the tendency of people in a given culture to value "group identity over the individual identity, group obligations over individual rights, and in-group-oriented concerns over individual wants and desires (Tubbs & Moss 317). Also, Tubbs and Moss suggests that Brazil, China, India, and Mexico are cultures that practice collectivism. However, Dr. Hatfield proposes that there is no definite line that exists to be able to refer to each country as either collectivists or individualists. She supports this theory as she explains how in general America may be an individualist culture where Americans live life competing against one another. But, Dr. Hatfield illuminates that America is also able to apply the collectivism culture in time of need; for example, Americans rush to each others rescue when it is necessary such as, Hurricane Katrina or 9/11 (In Class Discussion).

Cultures can also be defined as high or low-context cultures. Communicating Across Cultures suggests, "high context refers to societies or groups where people have close connections over a long period of time. Many aspects of cultural behavior are not made explicit because most members know what to do and what to think from years of interaction with each other" (website). In this case a family is a good example of high context culture. On the other side, Communicating Across Cultures defines low context cultures as "societies where people tend to have many connections but of shorter duration or for some specific reason. In these societies, cultural behavior and beliefs may need to be spelled out explicitly so that those coming into the cultural environment know how to behave" (website). People will often have low contact interactions at a very large US airport. 

Individualism and collectivism along with high-and-low-context cultures are two of the dimensions of intercultural communication.

website: http://www.culture-at-work.com/highlow.html

personal mass com

"New research on the use of social networks in the United States finds that 55 percent of online teenagers use social networking on such Web sites as Facebook and Myspace, and 55 percent have posted an online personal profile" (Tubbs & Moss 546). I am part of the 55 percent that has fallen a victim to these social networking sites. However, I never really paid much attention to my accounts until college.

One reason college has affected my use of my social networking through Facebook is because I am half a country away from all of my best friends, friends, and family. And Tubbs & Moss claims that 82% of social networking users are on these networks to stay in touch with old friends (546). So even though I was going to Creighton, I never intended on having these important people not be a part of my life. Facebook has been a great way to accessibly communicate with friends from high school, who I may not have stayed in contact with, and to see how one another's college experience is going. However, five of my best girl friends from grade school, and myself have a "thread" on Facebook. This allows us to update one of each other on our lives in sort of an open email within the six of us. It has been a great way to all keep in contact and up to date with each other. I have truly appreciated the easy means of communication provided by Facebook.

Another reason I have used Facebook more since I have entered into college life is because it has helped me to communicate and learn things about my new classmates. Tubbs & Moss notes that 49% of users use Facebook to help make new friends (546). Facebook is very helpful when it comes to learning if you have anything in common with a new friend or even just to simply communicate to one another through chatting or comments. 

Overall, Facebook has had positive effects on my interpersonal communication through mass communication providers. 

Applied - Mass com

Technology has allowed for an extreme change which is a trend referred to as "narrowcasting." "Narrowcasting refers to the programming designed to target a specific segment of the media audience" (Tubbs & Moss 538). Narrowcasting employs sophisticated research to learn information about the audiences lifestyles, characteristics, age, gender, needs, and preferences. Facebook is a online business that practices narrowcasting. 

Facebook allows easy access for companies to be selective in the viewers the companies want to attract. To begin, it instantly wants to clarify who the advertisement is meant to target. It asks for specific variables such as, location, age, keywords, relationship status, gender, relationship interests, languages, workplaces, and age that can help advertisers select the viewers of their ads. This is clearly beneficial toward companies because most of its viewers are all prospective clients. However this form of narrowcasting can be overwhelming to Facebook audiences. For example, a surplus weight loss ads are targeted to females on Facebook. It is no secret that females tend to be very self-conscience about their bodies, so no matter how healthy the viewer is, they may feel like these ads are truly trying to tell them something. In this situation, the narrowcasting Facebook has allowed weight loss companies to use is detrimental to the Facebook user and can cause harm to there health, by looking into unhealthy ways of loosing weight instead of the suggested advertisement. This which essentially benefits no one. This is an example in which the narrowcasting can harm a viewer; however, Facebook has many aides that pertain to males such as razors. In this case, these ads are normally beneficial to the company because males can easily see which razor suits there needs. Ultimately, it is essential for people to be aware of the narrowcasting on Facebook and not to let it alter decisions about what they like and who they are. 

http://www.facebook.com/advertising/?advertising&src=aw05Target Your Audience By:

• Location
• Age
• Sex

• Keywords
• Education
• Workplace

• Relationship Status
• Relationship Interests
• Languages 

definitional Mass Comm

"'Mass communication' is often used loosely to refer to the distribution of entertainment, arts, information, and messages by television, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, recorded music, and associated media" (website). Evidently, mass communications is how our world communicates news to one another. But who decides what is newsworthy for peoples attention, and for how long? 

"A gatekeeper is a person, who by selecting, changing ,and/or rejecting messages, can influence the flow of information to receiver or groups of receivers" (Tubbs & Moss 508). Seven different decisions help gatekeepers determine what is newsworthy. The first variable that gatekeepers must recognize is economics because much of the mass media in the United states is concerned with the profit they will make when spending and raising money. Next, legal restrictions affect the presentations and the content of information have to be taken into consideration. Also, the amount of time a gatekeeper has for a story (deadlines) affect the "depth as well as the time available to determine the accuracy of news selected" (Tubbs & Moss 510). The fourth thing gatekeepers take into consideration when determining the strength of a story is their ethics; their personal beliefs will influences the information they share will others. "A fifth factor is competition among media: In a market with several available sources, it was hoped that competition would raise the overall level of professionalism, ensuring a more objective presentation of information" (Tubbs & Moss 510). Also, the value of the news and the amount of time to present the story are huge factors when a gatekeeper is contemplating the "newsworthiness" that lies within a story. The final variable that affects a gatekeepers decision about stories within mass communication is reaction to feedback, where it is essential for gatekeepers to look at the media goals against public opinion. These are the several variables gatekeepers use to determine what stories should be released through mass communications. 

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/M/htmlM/masscommunic/masscommunic.htm 

Rhetoric & Public Culture Applied

I have been to Mexico several times for different reasons. I have been there both on vacation with my family and on Mission Trips to build houses with my parish. No matter what ever the reason I find myself in Mexico, my time spent there is always eye-opening to the different realities of our world. 

Every time I leave Mexico I am always overwhelmed with a feeling of appreciation. I tend to appreciate our physical world a lot more after my trips to Mexico. It breaks my heart when I walk up to the houses where a family of ten might be living and it is smaller than my dorm room with no running water or secure roofing. Furthermore, I always become thankful for the little things in America's physical world that we live with in our day to day life style, such as cars, grocery stores, paved streets, bathrooms, and computers. The circumstances the citizens of Mexico live under astonish me. 

However, the circumstances are not what ultimately stands out to me, it is Hispanics social realm that impresses me. Despite all of the communities "set backs" in developments and technological advancements the families thankfulness and closeness is stronger than any families I have ever seen.  For example, the families always provide a nice home cooked Mexican meal for us as we build the house when they do not need to and normally do not have the money to support the cause, but the financial restrictions do not stop the families appreciation. After spending about thirty seconds with the different families I always feel I am amongst the most genuine love that can be bestowed in people. No matter what happens the families eternal love is present in their day to day interactions with one another. Also, their power of prayer is impeccable. The families are so thankful for us, the workers, and God and express their thankfulness repetitively while we are there. I love my trips to Mexico because they are eye opening to the different "worlds" different cultures live in.