Justin Charlebois
Cross-Cultural Representations of Hegemonic Masculinity in Shall we DanceAbstract
This paper will analyze the representation of hegemonic masculinity (Connell 1987; 1995; Connell & Messerschmidt 2005) in the Japanese original and American remake of Shall We Dance (Chelsom 2004; Suo 1996). Results of the analysis demonstrate that while the Japanese version foregrounds a dominant social role conformity discourse, the American version privileges a compulsive masculinity discourse. Thus, Japanese hegemonic masculinity is built upon social role conformity while American hegemonic masculinity depends upon distancing oneself from femininity. Accordingly, social role transgression is discouraged in Japan while gender transgression is stigmatized in the United States. Despite the different value attached to these discourses, this paper will also demonstrate that gender intersects with the construction of other social identities. Keywords: hegemonic masculinity, male femininity, compulsive masculinity discourse, social role conformity discourse Back to start
Ulrike Meyer
In the Name of Identity: Teaching cultural awareness in the intercultural classroomAbstract
The paper presents a purely pedagogical application of Amin Maalouf's "identity check-up" as a tool which has proved to be useful in cultural mixed classes as a basis for self-analysis and discussion, and as a means of preventing the development of stereotypes and prejudices. Keywords: Identity, cultural identity, self-analysis, intercultural communication, international classroom, pedagogical approach Back to start
Noparat Tananuraksakul
An Exploratory Investigation of Asian Students’ Sense of Dignity in a Non-native English Language Learning ContextAbstract
This paper explores how learning English affects Asian students’ sense of dignity in an Australian social environment, and how they deal with negative encounters at school, at work and at public places. The research methodology used was in-depth interviews with seven postgraduate international students from six different countries in Asia and a convenient snowball sampling. Regardless of the non-native students’ English proficiency test results, they all encountered language and cultural obstacles during their transition to the Australian social environment. Their prior motivation and attitudes vis-à-vis English language learning in their homeland positively impacted on their responses to those obstacles. Such obstacles affected their well-being and sense of dignity negatively because mastering English is seen as an accomplishment. Back to start
Raquel Segovia
Transfer phenomena and intercultural movements of textsAbstract
The complexity of contemporary international communication requires an analysis of the transfer phenomena occurring within it. This paper addresses the subject from the perspective of cultural approaches to translation by adopting the concept modes of discursive transfer, which refers to any form of text processing that can be produced within and/or across cultures and media (translation, summary, adaptation for children, comic strip or film, etc.). To illustrate the transformations that textual material can undergo, I draw on the well-known example of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and its discursive multiplication within the book industry. Focusing more specifically on cover illustrations and plot summary, I adopt a cross-cultural perspective and present a comparison and contrast of the English, US, and Spanish editions.
Keywords: Translation studies, transfer theory, multimodal analysis, publishing strategies, intercultural narrative.
Pavica Sheldon
Being ill in a foreign country: International students’ trust in American physiciansAbstract
A survey with 169 international students was conducted to investigate the relationship between trust in American physicians and students’ locus of control, nationality, sex, and years of being in the United States, the number of American friends, the number of international friends, and the number of doctor’s visits. Results revealed that international students with an internal locus of control had a greater degree of trust in American physicians than students with an external locus of control. Students with more American friends did not trust their physicians more than students with fewer American friends. International students who stayed in the United States for a longer period also did not trust their physicians more than students who stayed for a shorter time. No difference existed in trust between male and female and between European and non-European students. Findings are somewhat opposite of what we would expect based on other cross-cultural adjustment studies. Keywords: locus of control, cross-cultural adjustment, cultural differences, international students, trust in physicians Back to start
Anne Lene Sørensen
Developing Personal Competence in Nursing Students through International Clinical Practice: with emphasis on communication and empathyAbstract
The purpose of this article is to demonstrate and discuss how personal competence, with emphasis on communication and empathy, can be developed by nursing students through international clinical practice. In order to develop personal competence and establish relationships with patients, the ability to communicate and to empathize is central. The basis for this article is data obtained from logs kept by ten third-year nursing students during their eight-week clinical practice programme at a nursing home and a rehabilitation unit in the Balkans. The logs were analysed by hermeneutic method, where the objective is to create meaning and understanding. The findings are discussed in relation to the importance of non-verbal communication when words are in short supply, the significance of being emotionally touched - empathy as a bodily response, empathy: neutral versus non-neutral, feeling versus emotion, empathy dependent upon similar experiences versus empathy as an affective response to the situation and the significance of critical reflection upon experience.
Keywords: personal competence, communication, empathy, log-based supervision, international studies, critical reflection.
Tianbo Li, Gillian Owen Moreira
The Influence of Confucianism and Buddhism on Chinese Business: the Case of Aveiro, PortugalAbstract
This paper addresses the influence of Confucianism and Buddhism on Chinese business against the background of China´s economic integration into the world. Considering the relationship between Confucianism, Buddhism and business from an intercultural perspective in the context of economic and cultural globalization, we present some modern Chinese business people, including some overseas Chinese, who behave in accordance with Confucianism, pray to Bodhisattva for safety and wealth, and donate to the temple. Reasons for these phenomena are analyzed and the role of harmony emphasized by Confucianism and Buddhism is taken into account. On the one hand, we find that silence, connections (guanxi, ??), tolerance and harmony are emphasized in the Chinese business community; on the other hand, the relationship between religions, overseas Chinese merchants and their business culture is explored. Concrete data is taken from our survey in 59 international companies in China, carried out in 2007. The influence of Confucianism and Buddhism on business is analyzed through my practical experience in the Chinese community in Portugal. Keywords: Confucianism; Buddhism; intercultural communication; harmony; Chinese immigrants; connections (guanxi, ??); tolerance; cooperative principles; politeness