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High Context Culture

Questions

Question

In this scene, Amanda and John describe some difficulties that they experienced in communicating with their hotel concierge. What specific details in their description allow the tour guide to understand what the concierge was trying to tell them?
Student responses should mention the nonverbal behaviors of the concierge, such as looking downward at his feet, showing embarrassment and discomfort, and the words “very difficult.”

Question

Using this scene as an example of misunderstanding due to the differences between high and low context cultures, what kinds of assumptions might a person from a high context culture make about a person from a low context culture who isn’t understanding the subtleties of his or her message?
Student responses might suggest that a person from a high context culture, such as the concierge in this scene, might view Amanda and John as too pushy or aggressive in their insistence on having an answer spelled out for them.

Question

In this scene how did John and Amanda misinterpret what the concierge was trying to tell them?
Student responses should mention that they thought the concierge was trying to bribe them.
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