13-Apr-21 Zaina Cummins, London Harrah, Regina Merrill
You are a college student from Italy, enrolled in a U.S. university. Your roommate in the international dorm is from England. You like to invite classmates to visit you in your room. Your roommate does not approve of the visitors and does not seem interested in forming a friendship. You are wondering how you will last through the year.
- What communication barriers are evident in this scenario?
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- In this situation, communication barriers that are evident are that you invite the classmate to join you, but they decline. This may seem very rude because in Italy we like to talk and be social with our peers. The student from England may have a presumption of you as an Italian or may just not be a social person which, if not communicated, could lead to a misunderstanding.
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- What cultural factors may be related to the barrier(s)?
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- There are many instances in which this particular situation may seem culturally inappropriate to either or party involved. For example, it may be considered rude or disrespectful to allow others to invite someone to not only your personal space, but your home, without a proper invitation. One party may find it completely unacceptable to allow a stranger into their personal world without any knowledge or warning. This could be a barrier between building bonds and friendships in one culture, but can be completely fine in the other. In my opinion, if I were the roommate who did not approve or have any knowledge of visitors coming over to my home, I would find it rude and disrespectful considering there is more than one person that lives here. You must consider the feelings and boundaries that your “roommate” may have despite if you find what you are doing to be acceptable.
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- How might the barrier(s) impact relationships? Team functioning? Workplace productivity?
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- The cultural barrier between the students will likely surface early in their relationship given that they live together. Different cultural backgrounds and social habits will cause conflict if they do not openly communicate with one another about their preferences and expectations. This may affect the roommates’ ability to form a relationship with one another, and the student from Italy may feel as if they cannot make friends to the extent that they would like by feeling uncomfortable when inviting other students over. This added stress could also weigh heavily on each student, causing disruptions that also affect their schoolwork and productivity.
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- What specific behaviors could help decrease or remove the barrier(s)?
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- I think if the student from England would have taken the time to explain his reasoning for declining the invite, rather than just declining, it would have given the student from Italy a better understanding as to why they would rather not. I also think that presumptions were made beforehand by both parties. If both parties went into this situation open minded, they would have been open to understanding the other person. If both parties also openly discussed their social preferences and expectations rather than making assumptions, it could also prevent conflict.