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Gage Keesee
Nick Owen
Intercultural Communication
7 December 2014
STEP 3: FINAL PAPER
Introduction
The purpose of this project was for me to learn about the differences in other cultures. To
learn how to effectively communicate with other cultures. Ultimately to gain knowledge to
interculturally communicate with others.The information that was gathered for the background
research was all found online on the SPSCCs library website. The information for the interview
was gathered from Lixin Yang(Mark). The reader will find lots of information about China and
Chinese culture. The reader will find information from what the geographic features are to what
Chinese people eat.
Content/Body
My informant is a 16 year old Chinese exchange student named Lixin Yang(Mark). He first
came to America in June of 2013 to see if he wanted to come and commit to going to school in
America. He then returned for the school year and is now on his second school year in America.
I believe that the sociology and humanities information from step one deserves special
consideration in order to communicate effectively with someone from this culture. I feel that
sociology and humanities have the biggest impact in they way we communicate with others.
I believe that Chinese culture is a collectivist culture. In china they tend to be closer to
family and relatives. They work as groups. Age is valued higher. Etc... However, I believe that no
person can put others before them always like collectivist culture says. So I believe that in a way

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they are also individualistic also.
The difference between a person to person interview and library research is that person to
person can be more entertaining but more time consuming at times. However, it can be faster
because you can ask for exactly what you want. But it is hard to schedule and you need to do all
sorts of preparations.
I learned lots of things about my informant. First I learned that he values his family a lot
being of a collectivist culture. Second I learned that he doesnt believe in any religion but has a
superstition about Buddhism. Third I learned that he has a very I dont care attitude towards
almost everything. Fourth I learned that his world views were very similar to mine besides a few
things like government.
I think that he is very similar to the orientations and culture patterns of his culture as a
whole. I know this from my research. My research says that woman and men our absolutely
equal. Which makes sense when they value family. My research says that Buddhism is the main
religion. So Mark having a superstition about the religion sounds very accurate. My research
does not say anything about attitudes but every persons is different. My research say they do
have three branches of government even though only one has the power so it makes sense that
our views are close but different also.
The only interesting Nonverbal behavioral characteristics of the Chinese culture was head
touching. In China when you touch someones head it means that you despise that person or feel
they are weak.
There are three main stereotypes about Chinese people. The first being all Chinese people
eat with chopsticks. While a lot of Chinese people eat with chopsticks not all do. The second
being all Chinese people eat rice and only rice. While Chinese people eat a lot of rice not all

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Chinese people eat rice and they eat more than just rice. The third being all Chinese people are
good at math. While yes a lot are good at math not all of them are.
The interview process allowed me to get new perspectives on people, government and ways
to do things.
Conclusion
I plan to gain more knowledge on top of my acquired knowledge so that I can be able to
interculturally communicate more effectively with others at work, at home and everyday places.
There is many implications for further research. Being a family that gets exchange students a
lot getting more information can always be more beneficial.
This project benefited me in two main ways. The first it allowed me to gain knowledge
about many things I never knew about before. The second being it will help me get a job in the
future knowing how to interculturally communicate and being able to know what an interview
will be like.

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