Steps to Achieving Intercultural Proficiency

Achieving intercultural proficiency doesn't just happen overnight. We must first become aware of our own culture and how it differs from other cultures. We must then be able to identify barriers to intercultural accommodation. Lastly, we must strive to conquer these barriers. It could take a considerable effort to overcome some cultural barriers that are more natural to us.

Becoming aware of other cultures and how they differ from our own culture is essential.
Ethnocentrism is the belief that your race or culture is superior to other races or cultures. Ethnocentrism is an attitude that comes to us naturally, and is an attitude that every culture has. Depending on where you were raised you have notions of right and wrong. It can be as simple as a handshake, which is seen as the 'right' way to greet someone in North America. Just because it's the 'right' way to greet North Americans, doesn't mean it's the proper way to greet someone from another country. In order to improve intercultural proficiency we must learn not to judge people by our own values.


Here's Tracy Goodwin on the the first step to overcoming ethnocentrism, becoming aware of the differences between our culture and other cultures.