1. Practice listening. There are cultural differences in how people value and engage in listening. In the dominant culture of the United States, people listen closely for concrete facts and information and often ask questions while listening. In other cultures, such as those in Japan, Finland, and Sweden, listeners tend to be more reserved and do not ask as many questions (Samovar, Porter, & McDaniel, 2012). Many cultures in East Asian countries value listening more than speaking.
As you practice, remember to check your understanding about what you see and hear. One way you can do so is to ask them their name and then try to say it back as accurately as possible. One of your authors did this when visiting with college students at Shanghai University. Although each student first introduced himself or herself with an “English” name, your author also asked them to offer their Chinese name. Then she repeated it back to them. When the students heard her make this genuine attempt to honor them and their given Chinese names, they began to trust her and opened up more during the classroom discussion. People who make a sincere effort to listen attentively and respond in an other-centered way find the most success when interacting with people from cultures that differ from their own.