Communicating in a Land Not Your Own: Teaching Nonverbal Communication in Study Abroad Settings

Sample

One area of nonverbal communication that always garners attention is that of intercultural differences. When someone encounters different cultures, they need to concern themselves with what is acceptable or unacceptable, what is offensive or not offensive, and what will garner expected or unexpected. When preparing students for a study abroad program, the professor leading the trip should make the concepts of nonverbal communication differences one of the primary aspects of the participants’ intercultural education. This case study looks at a study abroad program to Poland that includes just such education.