Understanding cultures for effective communicationAbstractThe purpose of this article is to examine different cultural backgrounds as a whole and come to the conclusion that other cultures have the exact same fears and misleading interpretations that we have and face today. Understand the multiple beliefs and traditions that each culture represents, so as to further advance our culture and our nation. Understanding Cultures for Effective Communication We all have an internal list of those we don't yet understand, let alone appreciate. We all have prejudices, even prejudices, towards specific groups. Fears usually include being judged, miscommunication, and condescension or hurting others unintentionally; the hopes are usually the chance to dialogue, learn something new, develop friendships and understand different points of view. Whenever we deal with people who are different from us, they are likely to carry a similar list of hopes and fears in their pockets. From Waging Peace in Our Schools, by Linda Lantieri and Janet Patti (Beacon Press, 1996) ) We communicate with others all the time, in our homes, in our workplaces, in the groups we belong to, and in the community. No matter how much we think we understand each other, communication is difficult. Think, for example, about how often we hear things like “He doesn't understand” or “He didn't really hear what I wanted to say.” “Culture” is often at the root of communication challenges. Our culture influences how we approach problems and how we participate in groups and communities. When we participate in groups we are often surprised by the different ways in which people approach their work together. Culture is a complex concept, with many different definitions. But, simply put, “culture” refers to a group or community with which we share common experiences that shape how we understand the world. It includes the groups we are born into, such as gender, race, or national origin. It also includes the groups we join or become a part of. For example, we can acquire a new culture by moving to a new region, changing our economic status, or becoming disabled. When we think about culture in this broad sense, we realize that we all belong to many c...... middle of paper ...... 6) Recent popular works demonstrate that our own society is paying more attention to ways of living previously neglected. knowledge. When entering into a multicultural dialogue or collaboration, keep in mind the six fundamental patterns of cultural differences. Next time you find yourself in a confusing situation and suspect cross-cultural differences are at play, try reviewing the list and asking yourself how culture might influence your reactions, then try to see the world from of others. visualization. These descriptions highlight some of the recurring causes of intercultural communication difficulties and illustrate the ways in which cultures, as a whole, tend to vary from one another. ReferencesAvruch, Kevin. Culture and Conflict Resolution Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace, 1998. http://www.peacemakers.ca/bibliography/bib3culture.htmlLantieri, L. Waging Peace in Our Schools (Beacon Press, 1996) http: //www .esrnational.org/lantieri/publications_waging.htmRushworth, Kiddler. Finding ethical common ground. (1998-99) http://zeus.uwindsor.ca/courses/comm.stud/machiorlatti/notes.htm