Speaking Across Cultures: Understanding Communication Styles in International Education

Globalization has created increased opportunities for people to interact with people from diverse nationalities. It is widely acknowledged that communication styles can vary across different cultures (Nishimura et al., 2008). Generally, people in Eastern cultures are considered to be more interdependent and collectivistic, while those in Western cultures tend to exhibit more individualistic behaviors (Marcus & Kitayama, 1991; Ting-Toomey, 1985). Hall (1976) categorized these variations in communication as "high-context" and "low-context" messages. These cultural differences could sometimes lead to misunderstandings and conflicts between people from different backgrounds. The present study explores how Japanese university students perceive their communication styles during oral interactions with international students in Japanese university settings. A qualitative research design is employed to draw on data from semi-structured interviews with eleven Japanese university students who have interacted with international students. When participants were asked about their attitudes toward communication with international students, most expressed a genuine interest in engaging in conversations and learning about other cultures. While many participants appreciated the opportunity to engage with different cultures, some expressed a lack of confidence in intercultural interactions, primarily due to anxiety about their English proficiency, and unfamiliarity with different communication styles. Nevertheless, participants reported overcoming these challenges through strategies such as using gestures. Most participants answered that Japanese individuals often struggle to express their opinions clearly, whereas international students tend to be more outspoken and eager to ask questions. In contrast, some participants perceived little difference in communication styles, attributing this to the efforts of international students to adapt to Japanese culture. Many participants highlighted the value of international perspectives, noting that these interactions enriched their understanding and boosted their confidence. The main implication of these findings is that despite initial communication barriers, intercultural communication could allow students to develop strategies to navigate intercultural interactions. Hence, it is important to create opportunities for intercultural exchange in educational settings.Keywords: Cultural differences, intercultural communication, collectivistic, individualistic, high-context, low-context, conflicts, international students, communication style