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《 今回のworkshop 》
○workshop参加人数：３２名（うち新人の方：１名）
○【前半】：low-context or high-context communication
○【後半】：The Brexit Problem -Is the EU worth it?
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【前半】
Title:
low-context or high-context communication
Introduction:
The ways of expressing our opinions or feelings are quite different from country to country. It is true that such differences partly arise from differences among individuals, but there are surely cultural characteristics. Knowledge about such characteristics is useful to prevent misunderstanding and adopt well to the international society. Although there are many points of view to categorize such ways of communication, I would like to introduce one method of categorization; “low-context or high-context” communication. Here, I will show the definition of each side.
low-context:
Good communication is honest, simple and clear. A message is expressed and interpreted literally and doesn’t include much connotations. Ambiguous, vague expressions are avoided.
high-context:
Good communication is implicit, coded and glancing. A message is expressed and interpreted indirectly and includes connotations. It’s usually implied modestly and rarely expressed clearly. The real meaning or intention of words are usually affected or changed depending on the context(*).
(*)Context means culture, situation, or shared knowledges among family and friends.
In this material, I would like you to see things from both low-context and high-context communicator’s side and enjoy the difference of communication style.
For example, if an exhausted tourist from Iran who has just finished his long journey says “I’m not hungry,” what do you think his real intention is?
Discussion Questions:
Q1. Which communication style do you usually use, low-context or high-context?
Q2. What is important to communicate in the situations below? Do you come up with any nice tips?
A. You are a low-context communicator. You are going to talk to a low-context communicator.
B. You are a low-context communicator. You are going to talk to a high-context communicator.
C. You are a high-context communicator. You are going to talk to a low-context communicator.
D. You are a high-context communicator. You are going to talk to a high-context communicator.
Q3. You are going to be a manager of an international team of 10 people. The team includes both low-context and high-context communicators. What will you do to prevent misunderstanding and finish the project successfully?
How about a team of 100 people? Do you change or add any strategies?
Q4. There are many other criteria to categorize differences in communication. What do you think about criteria below? Pick up any criteria you like and share your opinion or experience.
*Negative feedback; direct or indirect?
direct: Negative feedback to coworkers are conducted with frank, straightforward, honest words.
indirect: Negative feedback to coworkers are conducted with soft, subtle, gentle words and often accompanied by positive messages.
*Persuasion; principle basis or application basis?
principle basis: Theories and concepts come first, and then opinions and ideas are added.
application basis: Facts, remarks and opinions come first, and then theories are added only to make them persuasive. Theories and philosophical discussions are avoided in business situations.
*Trust; task basis or relationship basis?
task basis: Trusts to coworkers are built through tasks related to business. A person who does good performance is considered as reliable and trusted.
relationship basis: Trusts to coworkers are built through drinking or having lunch with them. Coworkers see deep inside of each other, talk about private lives, get to know friends of each other, and then finally get trusted.
*Difference of opinion; allow confrontation or avoid confrontation?
allow confrontation: Differences of opinion are seen as positive to a team. Confrontation isn’t a problem at all and doesn’t have any bad effect to relationship.
avoid confrontation: Differences of opinion are seen as negative to a team. Confrontation is a problem and has bad effect to solidarity or relationship of a team.
(Additional criteria)
*Leading; egalitarian or hierarchical?
egalitarian: Egalitarian leadership is appreciated. The boss and subordinates call to each other by their first name and talk casually. They associate on equal terms.
hierarchical: Hierarchical leadership is appreciated. Subordinates call their boss by name of position and use respect language. Hierarchical relationship is ever present.
*Deciding; consensual or top-down?
consensual: Decision-making process is consensual. Obtaining approval by circulating documents among all members concerned. Once a decision is made, it is so difficult to change it.
top-down: Decision-making process is top-down. Obeying the decision of their leader. Even if a decision is made, it is easy to change it.
*Scheduling; linear or flexible?
linear: Schedule is structured systematically, and all members are always on time. It is difficult to reschedule.
flexible: Schedule is flexible depending on the condition of each member. It is easy to reschedule.
Reference:
“Interpersonal Communication: High and Low Context Teaching Tool”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMGu89XBcT0
【後半】
Title:
The Brexit Problem -Is the EU worth it?
What do you know about the EU and the “Brexit” problem? Although probably most of us are not directly affected by the Brexit problem involving the UK and the EU, I think it’s meaningful for us to think about this issue in order to deepen our understanding of the world and what a country is.
Discussion questions:
1. Share what you know about the EU.
2. Share what you know about the Brexit problem.
3. What are some strengths of the EU?
4. What are some drawbacks of the EU?
5. Do you think it is beneficial for the UK to leave the EU?
6. Is the EU worth it? Or do you think it will end soon?
Reference:
“Brexit,” which is a new word that combines the words “Britain” and “exit,” became common after 2012. It refers to the UK leaving the European Union, which was decided with a vote in June 2016. The UK applied for its “exit” from the EU on March 29, 2017, and it planned to leave by April 2019. However, things have not gone as planned.
The EU is a community of 28 European countries including Germany and France. It was formed to make Europe’s economy stronger. All 28 countries work together as if they were one country. To promote economic activity, EU countries use the same money (the Euro), and countries can trade freely without tariffs.
Despite receiving these economic benefits from the EU, the people of the UK voted for Brexit for several reasons. One reason is immigration. In recent years, more immigrants have been coming from eastern European countries, which have joined the EU since 2004. People from these relatively poor countries have come to the UK looking for work, and this is leading to higher social welfare costs. In other words, the people of the UK voted for giving themselves work and social benefits, not giving them to immigrants.
Another reason is that many people are unhappy with the customs union. All EU countries have the same tariff system. This system is very important for each country’s economic policies. However, some people who want to leave the EU will be unhappy if the UK cannot decide its own trade system.
After the 2016 vote, confusion continued in the UK, and the April 2019 Brexit was postponed. UK Prime Minister Theresa May made a draft agreement for withdrawal from the EU, but the Parliament rejected it. In other words, the UK cannot decide what it wants to do. Prime Minister May took responsibility for the rejection and resigned in June 2019.
One of the biggest problems with the draft agreement was the issue of the Ireland border. Northern Ireland is on the same island as Ireland, but it is part of the United Kingdom. There were many incidents of terrorism in Northern Ireland during the 1960s. Many of these were caused by people who wanted to be part of Ireland. Then in 1998, the Belfast Agreement was signed, and the 30-year conflict ended. One part of this agreement was the end of the checkpoint at the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
To preserve this peace, Prime Minister May and the EU created a draft agreement that places no checkpoint on the border. However, exiting from the EU would require a checkpoint. That is because the post-Brexit tariff system would be different from the EU’s system, so it will be necessary to check imports at the border. Therefore, the draft agreement stated that the two sides would discuss leaving the EU without a checkpoint in the next few years. It also stated that the UK would stay in the EU customs union during that time.
This draft agreement was rejected not only by politicians who oppose Brexit, but also by politicians who support it. The current Parliament is divided into three main groups. One is politicians who are against Brexit, so of course they are against the draft agreement. Another is a group that thinks the UK should immediately leave the EU customs union. They opposed the part of the draft agreement that said the UK would stay in the customs union for the next few years. Many people in this group think that Brexit cannot be done without a checkpoint at the Ireland border. And they think that agreement with the EU is unnecessary. The third group thinks that the UK should leave the EU with some kind of agreement. Those who prioritize peace in Northern Ireland supported the draft agreement.
Brexit has been postponed until October 31, 2019. However, no one can predict what will happen. Many experts believe that the UK will leave the EU with an agreement. However, there is also the possibility of a “Hard Brexit,” which means leaving without an agreement. And there is also a chance that the UK will give up on Brexit altogether. So, what do you think will happen next?
| 01 | E's clubとは･ごあいさつ |
| 02 | サークルの８つのウリ |
| 03 | 学習会の流れ |
| 04 | レベルについて |
| 05 | スタッフ紹介・参加者の声 |
| 06 | 開催報告･過去の題材 |
| 07 | FAQ・会則 |
