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PLUS
Handbook
Cultural Awareness:
Thoughts on Developing Intercultural Relationships
Mentors have an opportunity to make a significant
difference and have a positive impact on the retention rates of
students. Our challenge is to welcome each student who is interested
in becoming a part of the mentoring program, and make them feel
appreciated and a part of Eastern Kentucky University. Under represented
students have a lower retention rate than other students. The following
suggestions may be helpful to you while establishing your relationship
with your mentee.
- Cultural Understanding: Attempt to understand the
particular influences on your mentees' cultural background.
- Verbal Interaction: Be sensitive to word selection
when communicating with the student. Students whose first language
is not English may not understand a variety of slang words and
idioms. If you make plans to meet again with your mentee, you
might want to follow up with written communication. Research
shows that oral communication followed by written communication
increases understanding. Be concerned with other differences
as well.
- Nonverbal Interaction:
- Eye Contact: Some cultural customs encourage little
or no eye contact. Be aware that because you are comfortable
with frequent eye contact others may not be. Little or no eye
contact from the student could communicate that student's respect
for your profession and/or standing and may not be an indicator
of boredom or a lack of interest.
- Touch: Handshakes and other preferences of touch may
vary from culture to culture. Some students may prefer to be
touched, while others may feel uncomfortable with any amount
of touching. Be cautious.
- Emotions: Although there are similarities with emotional
displays throughout the world, there are also variations of
expressions. A smile or laugh in one culture could suggest embarrassment
or a lack of understanding what was said. For example, a student
may smile or laugh when embarrassed or disappointed. Again,
be sensitive to the emotional differences in various cultures.
- Chronemics: There are various systems of organizing
and using time. For example, in the University environment,
arriving at the arranged time is customary; however in other
contexts, promptness may not be significant. Be alert to chronemic
differences.
- Proxemics: Adjust your use of space by the feedback
of the student. The comfort zone for both you and your mentee
is crucial in promoting openness.
REMEMBER: If you are uncertain how to handle a particular
situation that you feel is culturally based, ask! The above
list is not a complete list of all the factors that influence your
relationship with your mentee, but we hope it will be a beginning
guide toward a comfortable relationship. Although it may sound like
sheer common sense, it is important to review these possibilities.
Continue to educate yourself with current articles and books on
cultural communication. Be open and receptive to the student's needs
as well as to your own. Ethnocentrism influences all of us to some
degree. Recognize your own biases. Continually try to understand
the specific needs of your mentee. This effort will lead to a successful
and satisfying relationship for both you and your mentee. |
