Assignment Task:
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's group or culture is superior to all other groups or cultures. Aspects of another cultural group may seem "right" or "wrong" or "good" or "bad" based on our unique frame of reference: our knowledge, experiences, goals, values, and attitudes. However, ethnocentrism can make it challenging for communicators to respect others' cultural values, adapt messages to expectations, imagine oneself in place of listeners, and notice feedback.
This assignment begins with a memorable talk called "The Danger of a Single Story" by Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie in which she describes her own experiences with ethnocentrism in Nigeria, the United States and Mexico. She makes herself vulnerable by acknowledging her own ethnocentrism. In the discussion that follows, you are asked to recognize how ethnocentrism has affected your own conversations. Listen as Adichie tells the story of how she increased her self-awareness and improved her communication by preventing critical misunderstandings.
What insight did you gain from Chimamanda Adichie's story that you can use in your own communication with others?
Share a real-life example of a communication situation you have been involved in, where ethnocentrism affected the communication process.
Consider your answer to #2 and offer advice on how we can avoid that kind of ethnocentrism when we are speaking or listening