Reflect on how meanings vary according to cultural assumptions that Vietnamese and English speakers bring to interactions, and take responsibility for contributing to mutual understanding
Elaborations
considering how being bilingual offers different ways of interpreting the world and representing experience
explaining how cultural assumptions influence meaning, for example, the action of hugging as an indication of friendliness in English-speaking contexts versus gender intimacy in Vietnamese-speaking contexts
challenging cultural assumptions and bringing different perspectives to new cultural contexts or situations, for example, using the personal pronouns anh/em to indicate informality between colleagues rather than to define husband–wife or brother–sister relationships as traditionally assumed
considering own and others’ responses and reactions in Vietnamese–English intercultural exchanges and discussing reasons for different interpretations of meaning, for example, knowing that Vietnamese people like to please and therefore may give an inaccurate answer whereas Australians would prefer to say directly what they really think or mean
identifying moments of embarrassment or communication breakdown in own intercultural interactions, exploring reasons for these and suggesting adjustments to language and/or behaviours that could be made to enhance mutual understanding
discussing elements of successful intercultural communication, for example, flexibility, awareness of differences in cultural and religious practices, respect for elderly people and other traditions, attitudes to privacy or different levels of directness in discussions
