UNIT FIVE INTRODUCTION
Communicating Across Cultures
Our subject for this unit is communicating across cultures. Communication is perhaps one of the greatest challenges in relationship development among humanity. The lack of understanding between people is typically centered in a failure to communicate well. Communicating well is only accomplished when the person being communicated with (the receiver) receives (understands) the message being sent (communicated). This communication endeavor cross-culturally is today more possible while simultaneously more complicated with technology.
Email, text messaging, Facebook, Skype, etc. are great tools yet often communication becomes less than complete through the use of technology that is “expressionless.”
Sitting with someone and drinking coffee offers a much fuller and complete opportunity to communicate than attempting to dialogue through Facebook or Skype. Although there is reality to technology offering a less than complete communication experience; technology is a very powerful tool to move across cultures locally, nationally, and globally.
The text/media you accomplish in each unit is essential to learning the course content. This week’s reading about Eugene Nida’s “Three Culture Model of Missionary Communication” is very important.
Communication is the vital element in building relationships among people cross culturally. This unit is an exercise and journey in understanding aspects of cross-cultural communication. Please think through these aspects and complete the exercises including the threaded discussions interacting with the Three Culture Model of Missionary Communication developed by Eugene Nida.
UNIT FIVE ASSIGNMENTS
5.1 TEXT/MEDIA: TEXTBOOKS; MEDIA CLIP; POWERPOINT
INTRODUCTION AND ALIGNMENT
Communicating the gospel message with meaning is a challenge that highlights the need to
approach people with understanding. The understanding of the components of communication
is essential in doing multicultural ministry. This text/media assignment embraces core
knowledge that will equip you for multicultural communication.
The application for reading throughout this course is real in the urban multicultural community.
People from around the world, including those from Band, Peasant, and Tribal societies, migrate
to urban areas forming diverse populations. Understanding their worldview is essential to
effective ministry among them. Reading and contemplating on the reading throughout this
course will help to guide students to greater understanding of the importance of valuing an
individual’s and group’s story. Additionally, the understanding of the communication process of
contextualization equips a student to better communicate in culturally diverse communities.
The Communicating Across Cultures Lecture Media Clip and PowerPoint are designed to assist
your learning experience and course productivity. Understanding the challenges, difficulties,
and opportunities associated with communication is foundational to gaining a perspective of
how to effectively accomplish multi-cultural ministry.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read pages 155-209 & 211-224 in Bridges to People and write down the major points and themes.
2. Read pages 289-323 in Incarnational Ministry and write down the major points and themes.
3. View Communicating Across Cultures Lecture Media Clip and PowerPoints. Take notes on key points and information.
5.3 UNIT ASSIGNMENT: READING REVIEW QUESTIONS
The reflection questions exercise is designed to provide you with the opportunity to focus on your life, experience and perception of multicultural ministry. Drawing on your experience, worldview, and perception answer the four questions below.
RESOURCES
? Textbook: Bridges to People
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Review questions are designed to help you with processing the course material. They will also serve as study helps for the exam.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Review the Bridges to People reading assignment and create a Word document for the reflection questions exercise. At this point, there is no right or wrong answer. Even though the correctness of your answers will not be graded, the assignment should be taken seriously. A grade will be assigned based on the following criteria:
a. Use of proper grammar, spelling, etc.
b. Seriousness of response
c. Late responses will be penalized 1 point per day late
d. Record both questions and answers. Double space between the question and beginning of answer
and between end of answer and next question.
2. Respond to the following questions:
a. Describe Eugene Nida’s Three Cultural Model of Missionary Communication.
b. What is ethnographic research?
c. List and describe the six features of Participant Observation.
d. Define contextualization.
e. What is syncretism?
3. Record your answers in a Word document.
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