Intercultural AwarenessWrite an essay describing yourpersonal cultural background.Reflect on a situation where culturaldifferences led to misunderstandingand propose strategies you coulduse in the future to manage suchsituations more effectively• Identify personal motivationalcommunication experiences,differentiating between intrinsic andextrinsic examples. Write a reflectivepiece analyzing how communicationinfluenced your motivation.• Record real instances from yourweek where you communicatedemotions (e.g., joy, frustration, grief,disappointment, gratitude, etc.). Foreach instance, describe the specificsituation and analyze how youremotional expression either helpedfacilitate understanding or resolve amisunderstanding.
Answer (1)
Answer:Reflective Essay on Culture, Communication, and EmotionGrowing up in the Philippines, my personal cultural background is rooted in close family ties, respect for elders, hospitality, and deep religious values. In our home, we were taught to speak politely, avoid confrontation, and always consider others’ feelings before speaking. This made me more empathetic and soft-spoken, especially when dealing with authority figures or older people. These values guide how I communicate in daily life.However, I once experienced a misunderstanding with a foreign classmate during a group project. I avoided directly criticizing her ideas out of respect, but she interpreted my silence as disinterest. In her culture, open and direct feedback was expected. That moment made me realize how different cultural norms can affect communication. In the future, I will try to be more culturally aware and ask others about their communication preferences early on. I will also practice being more assertive without sounding rude, to bridge the gap between cultural styles.In terms of motivation, I’ve experienced both intrinsic and extrinsic communication influences. An intrinsic example was when a friend encouraged me after I failed a test. Her sincere words gave me the strength to try again—not because I was pressured, but because I felt supported. An extrinsic example was when my teacher offered bonus points to those who participated in a discussion. I was motivated by the reward, not personal interest. These moments show how communication can either fuel inner drive or offer external push.This past week, I had moments where I communicated emotions clearly. One day, I expressed frustration during a group task when no one was listening. I raised my voice slightly—not to offend, but to get attention. It helped the group refocus and improved our teamwork. Another moment was when I expressed gratitude to my classmate for helping me catch up on missed lessons. My sincere “thank you” made her smile and brought us closer as friends. These experiences showed me that expressing emotions can resolve tension and build stronger connections.
