Improving Intercultural Proficiency and Communication

This is a checklist for improving intercultural proficiency and communication:

• Study your own culture: In order to better understand, appreciate, and accept the values and behaviour of other cultures, it is important that you take the time to learn about your customs, biases, and views and how they differ from those in other societies.
• Learn about other cultures: Knowledge of other cultures opens your eyes and teaches you to expect differences, it also enriches your life!
• Curb ethnocentrism: Try to develop an open mind-set to be able to avoid judging others by your personal views. You will be able to get over the view that other cultures are incorrect, defective, or primitive.
• Avoid judgmentalism: Try not to be defensive in justifying your culture. Strive for objectivity and to accept other behaviour as different, rather than right or wrong.
• Seek common ground: Look for solutions that respect both cultures when there is a clash between them. 
• Observe nonverbal cues in your culture: Become more alert to the meanings of gestures in your culture and how they differ in other countries.