A Reflection on Education

This week's lesson on intercultural communication made me realize that effective communication goes beyond words. Intercultural communication explores how cultural values, traditions, and expectations shape the way people interact through both verbal and non-verbal communication (Lesson #08, 2026). Living in Japan has shown me that even simple actions, such as bowing or making eye contact, can carry different meanings across cultures. 

One concept that I found particularly interesting was the adaptation versus authenticity dilemma. After watching Conan & Jordan Share A Kaiseki Meal, I reflected on the responsibilities of both guests and hosts in intercultural situations. Personally, I believe that guests have a greater responsibility to adapt when entering a different culture because they are the ones stepping into a new environment with unfamiliar customs and expectations. Making an effort to understand local traditions demonstrates respect and cultural awareness. However, adaptation should not be one-sided. Hosts should also be welcoming and patient with visitors who may not fully understand the culture at first. 

As someone from Brunei currently living in Japan, I have noticed that both cultures highly value respect, politeness, and maintaining harmony within the community. People are generally expected to be considerate of others and avoid causing inconvenience. However, Japanese communication tends to be more indirect, particularly when discussing disagreements or criticism. This relates to the concept of "saving face," where protecting a person's dignity is considered important for maintaining positive relationships.

This concept also relates to my experiences working on university group projects. When I disagree with a group member's idea, I prefer to express my concerns respectfully and indirectly rather than rejecting the idea outright. I believe maintaining good relationships within the group is important for successful collaboration. Likewise, when conflicts arise, I tend to give people time to reflect before discussing the issue, as this often leads to calmer and more constructive conversations.

Another important lesson was the role of humor in intercultural communication. While humor can strengthen relationships and create a friendly atmosphere, excessive sarcasm or jokes may be misunderstood because cultural backgrounds influence how people interpret them. What one person finds funny may be seen by another as disrespectful or even insulting. Therefore, I believe humor should be used carefully and appropriately, especially when communicating with people from different cultures.

Finally, I believe face-to-face communication is generally more effective than text-based communication in intercultural contexts. Non-verbal cues such as tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language help clarify meaning and reduce misunderstandings. This is particularly important because non-verbal behaviors can be interpreted differently across cultures depending on cultural norms and expectations (Oni Boluwatife, 2025). In contrast, text-based communication relies only on words and often lacks emotional context. As a result, the same message can be interpreted differently by different people, increasing the risk of misunderstandings.

Overall, this lesson helped me better understand how culture influences the way people communicate and interact. By recognizing both verbal and non-verbal differences across cultures, we can reduce misunderstandings and build more meaningful relationships. As intercultural interactions become increasingly common, developing cultural awareness and adaptability will be essential for communicating effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.



References

Lesson #08. (2026). Intercultural communication. Course materials.

Oni Boluwatife, S. (2025). Cultural differences in nonverbal communication. Medium. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/391050068_Cultural_Differences_in_Nonverbal_Communication

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