Key Questions for Inquiry: To communicate effectively and appropriately in an intercultural context:

(Guide to formulate our own set of questions for interview)

1. What does one need to know about another culture?
2. How does one keep the motivation to deal with others?
3. How does one cope with uncertain situations or challenges?
4. What traits are needed to establish connections and maintain social relationships?
5. What communications skills are helpful to promote understanding?

● Each member of the group will interview someone. They could be Filipinos abroad (migrants or OFWs,
international students) or foreigners in our country.
● We will ask about their living experiences abroad. Listen to their stories.
● Take note of their experiential account in living, studying, or working abroad. And then, solicit meaningful
information from them regarding their prior knowledge of the host country or new culture, their
motivation to assimilate in that culture and the challenges they encountered, and the efforts they had to
overcome those challenges that enabled them to integrate. Ask how they find or feel about the
communication styles of the people in that new culture. (Guide to formulate the questions that we need
to answer)
● Share the stories of whom you interviewed to your group members and draw meaningful connections as
to the insights you gained. From your group's insights, outline ways to build intercultural communication
competence: focus these on themes related to motivation, knowledge, tolerance of anxiety, and
communicative behavior.
● We are going to answer our questions before we interview, to verify our assumptions. (‘Are your answers
correct?’ or ‘Are your impressions about them in terms of how they communicate correctly?’)

5-7 mins only to present.

First slide: Introduction

Present our assumptions

Second slide: Body

Briefly walk the audience through the stories of our interviewees and discuss our analysis

Last slide: Conclusion

Validate our assumptions and present practical recommendations on how we can build intercultural
communication competence.

Note: Provide some evidence of the interview and our participants in another culture

Submission: Submit Ppt in the dropbox, labeled ‘Collaborative Work: Inquiry-Based Learning Project on ICC’.

Questions for the Interview:

1. Why did you decide to move to a new culture (please state the country) and what do you know about
their culture before moving?

2. What are your difficulties in adjusting to a new culture, and how do you deal/cope with it?

3. Compared with your prior knowledge about the country, did anything change with regards to how you
view or feel about that country / their culture?

4. What is your opinion about the way locals communicate with each other, does it differ from how we
communicate in the Philippines?
 5. If there is one thing (food, transportation, classes, etc.) you would want to have in the country you're
staying in that you think can help you adapt faster, what would it be? And why?

Our Assumptions:

Laila

1. They moved to a new culture for more opportunities and better living conditions. Prior to moving, the
basic language of the country is probably known by them.

2. New environments with fewer Filipino people and far from their families could be one of their difficulties.
For coping, I think they just naturally accept and adjust to the new culture. If not, I think they tried to ask
people about the different things that they do in the country and learn their language more.

3. I think everything changed with how they viewed or felt about the country since they had the time to
learn and understand more about their culture and practices.

4. There is not much difference between the way locals communicate with each other and how we
communicate in the Philippines because their language is English, a language that is commonly used in the
Philippines.

5. Family. Having their family with them could make them more comfortable to explore more and they have
someone accompanying them in adapting to changes.

Jeanfen

1. They decided to go abroad because of work. They probably don’t have any idea about the new culture at
first, but then, with the help of their co-workers and fellow Filipinos (or "kababayan") out there, they
manage to learn from their experiences and adapt to the new culture.

2. One major thing would be the language, which they had never spoken before, or maybe they knew a little
bit of English, but then it would be difficult if the people there also do not speak other foreign languages
often. That’s why they must do their best to learn the language that the locals speak.

3. They may find it difficult to adjust at first, but then as they stay there for a long time, they will become
much more comfortable with the environment, and by this time, they may also know how to speak the
language of the country. They will also know more about the food, culture, traditions, and practices that
they didn’t know before. They are pretty much now locals there but it depends upon the duration of their
stay.

4. There may be a lot of differences when it comes to how the people in that culture communicate with each
other and the way we Filipinos communicate. But as the English language is widely used, it is also possible
for them to use English as their language to communicate with other locals. It may be hard on the part of
the immigrant to speak the language clearly and for the locals to understand what they are saying.

5. At least one friend, family member, or relative that also stays or works in the country. It will be very helpful
for that person to get used quickly to the ways of living in that country, and it will be less lonely if you have
at least one person whom you have something in common with and who can speak your mother tongue.
First Interview
Interviewee: Sherly Samonte
Filipino OFW, 12 years in UAE
Relationship: Cousin

1. Why did you decide to move to a new culture (please state the country) and what did you know about it
before moving?

A: Before I moved in, I only knew that the UAE had a lot of open job opportunities. But then I decided to move in
here because I also wanted to explore and experience their culture, especially since the UAE is an Islamic country.
They have different traditions than we do, and have different historical, architectural, and food traditions.

2. What are your difficulties in adjusting to a new culture, and how do you deal with them?

A: The only thing that made me sad during my first month here was the weather; it's too hot here, but I'm getting
used to it, and it's now tolerable.

3. Compared with your prior knowledge of the country, did anything change with regards to how you view
or feel about that country or its culture?

A: Certainly, especially with how locals communicate with others and Islamic law. Later on, I realized that people
there can also be polite to others. They became open-minded when it comes to relationships outside marriage,
since before, it was against the law, and lastly, the government here prioritizes employees more than employers.

4. What is your opinion about the way locals communicate with each other? Does it differ from how we
communicate in the Philippines?

A: They are diametrically opposed. The way they talk, they have a strong personality, and not all are polite at first,
since most of the locals cannot speak or understand English.

5. If there is one thing (food, transportation, classes, etc.) you would want to have in the country you're
staying in that you think can help you adapt faster, what would it be? And why?

A: I wish they would allow permanent residency for us there in the UAE. Because every 2 years, you need to renew
your visa. If not, even if you stay here for many years, unless you marry a local person, you won’t become a
permanent resident. Other than that, they already have all the things I need, like food, high-tech transportation,
and a good workplace.
Record of Interview
Interviewee: Mary Ann Punzalan, 6 years residence in Canada
Relationship: Confirmation Godparent

1. Why did you decide to move to a new culture (please state the country) and what do you know about
their culture before moving?

My husband is an OFW here in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and after earning all the requirements, he
decided to bring us, his family, here too. Before moving in, I just know that Canada is just like what a
foreign country we can picture of; an English-speaking country and an urban life. I know that they speak
English and there are Filipinos that migrated so it is easy to adapt. But I didn't know that it has more
mountains and lakes than I expected.

2. What are your difficulties in adjusting to a new culture, and how do you deal/cope with it?

At first, it was hard to get used to the weather. In the Philippines, we don't have winter so the weather in
Canada is really new and we are not used to the cold. How do we deal with it? We bought enough thick
jackets for each family member.

3. Compared with your prior knowledge about the country, did anything change with regards to how you
view or feel about that country / their culture?

Of course. My daughter thought that people in Canada are like the people in the US who are liberated and
we thought it would be hard for us to make friends. But it all changed after moving, we got to know that
our neighbors are Filipinos and people are nice. Also, it is so quiet here, we thought that people always
have time for leisure and stuff but we got to know that their usual routine is only going to work, going
home, and repeating.

4. What is your opinion about the way locals communicate with each other, does it differ from how we
communicate in the Philippines?

I don't think there is any different from how we communicated back when we were still in the Philippines.
We communicate in English with the Canadian people, but with our fellow Filipinos, we communicate in
Tagalog. The Canadian people are also nice and respectful to talk to.

5. If there is one thing (food, transportation, classes, etc.) you would want to have in the country you're
staying in that you think can help you adapt faster, what would it be?

I don't think I would want to have something to adapt faster because my husband has been working here
for several years before we moved and there are Filipinos who really helped us. But in terms of residence,
I wish to have a faster process of citizenship. The process of our citizenship has been delayed because of
the pandemic so we still can't visit the Philippines since one of their requirements is to really stay in the
country.
Validating Assumptions & Practical Recommendations on building ICC.
From your group's insights, outline ways to build intercultural communication competence: focus these on themes
related to motivation, knowledge, tolerance of anxiety, and communicative behavior.

PPT: Validating Assumptions

Assumptions 1st Interview Responses 2nd Interview Responses

They decided to go abroad because The interviewee only knew that The interviewee moved to Canada
of work opportunities and better UAE has a lot of open job for their family’s better living
living conditions. opportunities. She decided to work conditions. She knows that it is an
there because she also wanted to English-speaking country with
explore and experience the culture, urban life, but did not know that it
knowing that UAE is an Islamic has more mountains and lakes than
country and they have different expected.
traditions than we have.

New environments, foreign The only thing that made her It was hard for them to get used to
languages, and few Filipino people uncomfortable during the first the weather, and to deal with it,
could be their difficulties. month there was the weather since they bought thick jackets for the
Therefore, learning the locals’ it is too hot there. But then she, family.
language and seeking help from later on, got used to it, and it's now
other people (Filipinos) could help. tolerable for her.

I think everything changed with At first, she thought that the locals They thought that locals are
how they viewed or felt about the could be intimidating in the way liberated and hard to be friends
country since they had the time to they speak but later on, she with but it changed as they learned
adjust. By this time, they may also realized that people there can also that their neighbors are Filipinos
know how to speak the language of be polite to others. And after the and the locals are nice. They were
the country. They will also know revisions in Islamic law, they not expecting that the local’s usual
more about the food, culture, became open-minded when it routine is only going to work, going
traditions, and practices that they comes to relationships outside home, and repeating.
didn’t know before. They are pretty marriage. Moreover, she also found
much now locals there depending that the government there
of course upon the duration of prioritizes employees like her more
their stay. than the employers.

There may be a lot of differences It is very different from how we They do not see any difference in
when it comes to how the people communicate here in the terms of the way of
in that culture communicate with Philippines. She said that the way communication; they speak Tagalog
each other and the way we they talk, they have strong accents with Filipinos and English with the
Filipinos communicate. But it is also and they can sound rude at first locals. The locals are also nice and
possible that there is not much since most of the locals cannot respectful to talk to according to
difference between the way the speak or understand English her.
locals communicate with each
other and how we communicate in
the Philippines, especially if their
language is English, a language that
is commonly used in the
Philippines.

At least one friend, family member, She hopes that the country will She thinks that she does not need
or relative that also stays or works have permanent residency for anything to adapt faster because
 in the country. Having their family foreigners because every two years her husband was an OFW there
with them could make them more they need to renew their visa. before they migrated and there are
comfortable to explore more and Unless she marries a local there, Filipinos who can help. But her
they have someone accompanying she won’t become a permanent concern is the process of
them in adapting to changes. It will resident. Other than that she finds citizenship, as it got delayed due to
be less lonely if they have at least the food, transportation, and her the pandemic which hinders them
one person whom they also have workplace good. from visiting the Philippines.
something in common with and
who can speak their mother
tongue.

Practical recommendations:

For motivation

● Have breaks. Spend your free time traveling around the city and other places in the country to learn more
and enjoy the cultures and traditions they have.
● Picture your life a year from now – will you regret not having gone to your destination or not doing
something you should have?

Knowledge

● Before moving to a new country, doing prior research on their environment and language can help people
in communicating with the locals comfortably and effectively.
● Observe and learn the local’s usual activities as it helps in gaining friends and adapting to their culture.

Tolerance of anxiety

● Keep in touch regularly with your family, through chats, phone calls, or video calls.
● Make efforts to learn and learn more from the locals and other Filipinos living in the country. Practice
what you learn and try to communicate with others for you to improve.
● Remind yourself of the reason why you had chosen to move or work in that country.

Communicative behavior

● Be mindful of your actions, especially with humor, as there could be a possibility of offending someone,
and since there is a new mode of communication, it might be different from what you were used to.
● Try to use their language as often as you can to practice and communicate naturally with the locals.
● Practice active listening to make sure that you understood them correctly.
 Overall Script

1st slide:
Jean: Good morning everyone, I am Jeanfen,
Laila: and I am Eunice, and we will present our collaborative work on ICC.

next slide:
Jean: To start with our presentation, we have 5 assumptions that are based on the questions we have made for our
interviewees.

Our first assumption is that they, Filipinos, decided to go abroad because of work opportunities and better living
conditions. Depending upon each case, that person may have or may not have any prior knowledge about its
culture and language.

Laila: For the possible difficulties that they might experience while dealing in a new culture, we assumed that new
environments, foreign languages, and few Filipino people could be their difficulties. Therefore, learning the locals’
language and seeking help from other people (Filipinos) could help.

Jean: For the changes, we also assumed that everything changed with how they viewed or felt about the country
since they had the time to adjust. By this time, they may also know how to speak the language of the country. They
will also know more about the food, culture, traditions, and practices that they didn’t know before. They are pretty
much now locals there depending upon the duration of their stay.

Laila: With regards to the way of communicating, there may be a lot of differences. But it is also possible that there
is not much difference between the way the locals communicate with each other and how we communicate in the
Philippines, especially if their language is English, which we commonly use as well.

Laila: Moving into a new country is difficult, hence, we assumed that if there is one thing they would want to have
to adapt faster, it would be at least one friend, family member, or relative who also stays or works in the country.
Having their family with them could make them more comfortable to explore more and they have someone
accompanying them in adapting to changes.

next slide:
Jean: I asked my cousin Sherly to be my interviewee. She's been in the UAE for 12 years. She moved to the UAE
because she knew there were many job openings. She also wanted to learn about the culture, as the UAE is an
Islamic country with different traditions than ours. The weather was the most difficult thing for her during the first
month because it was too hot. But she got used to it and it’s now tolerable. Initially, she thought the locals could be
intimidating in their personality, but she later realized that people can be polite to others. After the changes in
Islamic law, they became more tolerant of relationships outside marriage. She also realized that the government
prioritizes employees over employers. According to her, the way we and the people there communicate is totally
different. She said they have strong accents and can appear rude at first because most locals do not speak English.
For the last question, she only wishes for permanent residency for foreigners, who must renew their visa every two
years. Because she won't become a permanent resident unless she marries a local... Other than that, she likes her
job, food, and transportation.

Eunice: For my side, I interviewed Mary Ann Punzalan, my godparent in confirmation, who has been living in Regina,
Canada for six years. When asked why she moved to Canada, she said it was for her family's better living
conditions. She knows it's an English-speaking country, but she didn't expect it to have so many mountains and
lakes. The weather is one of her challenges in a new country or culture. They struggled to adapt to the weather and
bought thick jackets to cope. I asked her about her views on their culture after years of living there. When they
discovered that their neighbors were Filipinos, they realized how friendly the locals are. They also did not expect
the locals to go to work, home, and repeat. They don't see a difference in how people communicate; they speak
Tagalog with Filipinos and English with locals. The locals are also friendly and respectful. Finally, she believes she
can adapt quickly because her husband was an OFW before they migrated and there are Filipinos who can help.
Moreover, her entire family speaks English, so it isn't difficult for them. Her only concern is the citizenship process,
which has been delayed due to the pandemic, preventing them from visiting the Philippines.

Next slide:
Jean: Upon comparing our assumptions to our interviewee’s responses, the first assumption is similar to the
common reasons of our fellow Filipinos for moving to a new country. For the second one, the environment or the
difference in weather was both mentioned by our interviewees, either it is too hot or too cold for them since the
weathers in their countries are different from ours.

In the assumption, we are also on the same page as our interviewees, because they both have changed their views
on the locals. But still, they find the local’s communicative behavior different from ours as we have presumed.

Considering our assumptions and their answers, it is clear that we are not entirely familiar with their experiences,
hence, we cannot easily conclude something and make it fit into every case as these people may have different
reasons for certain decisions, different ways in approaching situations, and different experiences in the country
they are living in.

Next slide:
Laila: For our practical recommendations to build intercultural communication competence… we based our
answers upon the four categories as follows:

For motivation, we recommend having breaks. Spend their free time traveling around the city in the new country to
learn more and enjoy their cultures and traditions. Moreover, picture their life a year from now, will they regret not
having gone to their destination or not doing something they should have? This could help in redirecting their
views or motivation towards the new culture they are experiencing.

For the knowledge, we recommend that before moving, doing prior research on their environment and language
can help people in communicating with the locals comfortably and effectively. Also, observe and learn the local’s
usual activities as it helps in gaining friends and adapting to their culture.

Jean: For the tolerance of anxiety, keeping in touch regularly with your family through chats, phone calls, or video
calls can help in easing your feelings and relieve stress. Furthermore, make efforts to learn from the locals and
other Filipinos living in the country. Practice what you learn and try to communicate with others for you to
improve. Lastly, look at the bright side and remind yourself of the reason why you had chosen to move or work in
that country.

For communicative behavior, always be mindful of your actions, especially with humor, as there could be a
possibility of offending someone, since it is a new mode of communication, it might be different from what you
were used to. Try to use their language as often as you can to practice and communicate naturally with the locals.

Laila: As the world embraces multiculturalism, these could help them better cope with the unexpected things they
could experience in a new culture and help in cross-cultural understanding.

Next slide:
Laila: That was all for our input regarding intercultural communication competence. Thank you for listening!