19/10/2023
Culture fluency.
If you assume that everybody else communicates the way you do, you need to get ready for miscommunication, misunderstanding, and plenty of problems in relationships and work.
Learning vocabulary and grammar does not mean you know the language. It just means you know vocabulary and grammar. Speaking like a native speaker means knowing HOW they speak. Is the nation very straightforward (like Germans) or is the nation very indirect and extra polite (like Japan), maybe the nation is very sensitive and emotional (like Italians). It is down to culture and learning about it is called Culture fluency.
Culture fluency involves being aware of what's considered appropriate etiquette in a certain nation —from body language to physical contact to eye contact. And finally, to understand how they speak and what they really mean when they speak. Quite often people who learn English until a certain level don’t feel the language. Till then they use English words but continue speaking their first language. So when you develop your culture fluency, you not only start “reading” people from other countries, but you also become more aware of how to effectively work with other people. You will understand what they expect you to say and you will know what to expect to hear from them.
When you are culturally fluent, you can communicate effectively, build relationships, work with people from different nations, find common ground with foreigners, enhance empathy, increase cultural competence, improve conflict resolution, and, finally, promote diversity and inclusion.
Effective communication is key!
