One such barrier is ethnocentrism. Any intercultural interaction will be influenced by an individual’s ethnocentrism, or the belief that one’s culture (“in-group”) is superior to another’s culture (“out-group”).   All humans are to some extent ethnocentric, falling somewhere on a scale between “low” and “high” ethnocentricity.  High or low levels of ethnocentricity influence an individual’s ability to successfully communicate interculturally. Individuals with high ethnocentricity will experience the largest communication barriers with those who are different from them. Highly ethnocentric individuals may feel “suspicious, defensive, and hostile” toward international students, especially students who have different social and cultural norms from the in-group.

However, ethnocentricity is not always negative. Those with low ethnocentricity may feel “curious, interested, and inspired” by their intercultural interactions and as a result, experience the benefits of increased intercultural competence. International students report a lack of cultural sensitivity coupled with negative attitudes towards them as their biggest barrier to effective intercultural interactions. Given this, personal awareness of our own ethnocentricity and its effect on our ability to work with students suddenly becomes more important.

Levels of ethnocentrism are closely connected to intercultural communication apprehension, another communication barrier. 

Read the full story by Kathy McKeiver, Global Engagement Commission Chair