Communicating and Adapting Across Cultures: Living and Working in the Global Village

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Today, more Americans than ever are going abroad to visit, work, or study. Increasingly, the ability to communicate and work in cross-cultural situations is seen as an important determinant of success in business, government, education, and the social services. Being successful depends less on what you know of a particular culture than it does on what you know about managing new cultural situations. This book provides a comprehensive and practical guide to communicating, learning, and adapting within any new cultural environment. It begins by examining what culture is and why it is important. It then goes on to outline the process of cross-cultural adjustment, and presents some highly effective tools and strategies for avoiding culture shock, while encouraging learning. Advice on learning a language, preparing for the transition, settling in, working and living overseas, and planning re-entry into U.S. culture is given. One of the book's most useful features is the presentation of a detailed plan for actually making the transition from one culture to another. It also provides a detailed chapter on re-entering the home environment, again to aid in minimizing shock and anxiety. The skills learned from this book are essential to success and can be put to use in any new culture, anywhere in the world.

Reviews

"[Nolan] provides the kind of information that returnees from international study or assignments always wish "they had known about before they left" and does so in clear, concise writing....As a guide to preparing oneself for an overseas experience this thoughtful overview covers all the necessary bases and following his advice will greatly ease making cross-cultural transitions."-Bruce La Brack Professor of Anthropology and International Studies University of the Pacific
"Communicating and Adapting Across Cultures is a comprehensive review of the published material in this complex important field. Multipurpose and comprehensive, it can be used by the neophyte as well as old hands, who being realistic, know that one can never know too much about the intercultural process when working in a multicultural world."-Edward T. Hall Professor Emeritus Northwestern University
"Communicating and Adapting Across Cultures is spritely written and should be a welcomed addition to the growing literature on how best to adjust to living in an increasingly interdependent world."-Gary Ferraro Director and Professor of Anthropology The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
"I read this book after a long journey through Asia where I worked with many American men and women who are facing daunting difficulties. I could only wish each of them had read this book before they went to Asia....Most of us Americans, it is true, are ill-equipped to move beyond our borders and become comfortable and effective in a different language and culture. We need a guide--a seasoned, articulate guide. We can do no better than Riall Nolan."-George W. Renwick President Renwick and Associates
"The content provides practical guidance for effectively navigating the sometimes unexpected and turbulent cultural waters of other societies so that the journey is enriching rather than terrifying."-Jim Austin McLean Professor of Business Administration Harvard University
"The work Communicating and Adapting Across Cultures is a concise, clear, and valuable work, written in simple and clear language for neophytes new to the intercultural experience....It provides practical suggestions...from preparing to go abroad, engaging appropriately in a new culture, and preparing for return to one's own culture."-Alvino E. Fantini Director, Bilingual-Multicultural Education MAT Program, School for International Training
"This book, with its many figures, tables, references, and tools will be particularly useful for the beginning travelers abroad."-Robert T. Moran Chair of the International Studies Department Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management
This book provides a comprehensive and practical guide to communicating, learning, and adapting within any new cultural evironment....Presents some highly effective tools and strategies for avoiding culture shock.-New Books in the Communications Library
"This book provides a comprehensive and practical guide to communicating, learning, and adapting within any new cultural evironment....Presents some highly effective tools and strategies for avoiding culture shock."-New Books in the Communications Library

Author Bio

RIALL W. NOLAN is Associate Provost at the University of Cincinnati, and Director of the Institute for Global Studies and Affairs./e He is an anthropologist and international development specialist. He has lived and worked overseas for nearly twenty years. His published writing includes both fiction and non-fiction.