ABSTRACT
This chapter explores communication in educational experiences among diverse groups. Communication style and expectations are influenced by many factors: backgrounds, culture, gender, age, ethnicity, member groups, languages, identities, and personality type. Intercultural communication can be described in many ways and is discussed in many fields, but a simple and comprehensive definition is “communication between members of different groups”. Increased intercultural competence is often cited as a result of university internationalization efforts. While institutions and scholars may utilize slightly different definitions of this term, one that is most widely agreed upon by scholars and administrators is “the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in intercultural situations based on one’s intercultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes”. Individuals with strong intercultural competence are more likely to be sensitive to cultural factors or differences and how those differences may affect communication and interpretations of meaning. A number of models from various fields related to intercultural communication and competence exist.
