Panel Explores Miscommunication across Cultures

09/25/2014 

A SUNY Cortland panel discussion on communication across cultures will examine ways in which two people can have different understandings of time, historical events and word meanings even when they speak the same language.

“Cross-Cultural Miscommunication: A Panel and Audience Discussion” takes place Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Moffett Center, Room 2125.

It is free and open to the public.

“Throughout their careers, students will interact or do business with people from other cultures,” said John Suarez, the College’s service-learning coordinator and organizer of the event. “This panel discussion will help them understand the professional and personal importance of multicultural knowledge.”

Four of the five panelists are SUNY Cortland students who will detail their firsthand accounts of cross-cultural misunderstandings. The discussion aims to identify the way culture complicates communication at a time when the classroom, workplace and sports arena are increasingly global.

Panelists include:

• Sharon Steadman, a professor of sociology/anthropology.

• Meryem Akman, an international student from Turkey.

• Ilia Bercov, an international student from Germany.

• Banu Bozkurt, an international student from Turkey.

• Yi Su, an international student from China.

The panelists first will share their experiences. Audience members then will be invited to ask questions and share their own stories.

The talk, now in its sixth year, is sponsored by SUNY Cortland’s Clark Center for International Education, Institute for Civic Engagement and International Programs Office.

For more information, contact Suarez.