Cultural communication and miscommunication: Chinese MBA students in a Canadian academic and sociocultural context

This doctoral study deals with communication issues of MBA students from China at Eastern Canada University (pseudonym). The author investigates how Chinese cultural presuppositions can lead to miscommunication and misunderstanding in the Canadian academic and social context. The main research questions are: What is the nature of Chinese/Canadian cross-cultural miscommunication and misunderstanding? What are the reasons for such miscommunication and misunderstanding? What are the consequences of such miscommunication and misunderstanding? What are the strategies for dealing/coping with miscommunication and misunderstanding?; In examining communication issues in non-instructional, real-life settings, the emphasis of the present study is on communicative competence (Hymes, 1971, 1972) and language socialization (Lazaraton, 1995). Firth & Wagner (1997) lament that although second and foreign language interactions in non-instructional settings are everyday occurrences, such as in the workplace, they have not yet attracted the attention of second language acquisition researchers. The present study addresses this gap. Johnson (1992) encourages ethnographic research, by saying that we can gain new insights by employing ethnographic approaches to understanding second and foreign language learners in schools and varied adult educational and workplace settings.; The present study is a naturalistic inquiry employing ethnographic methods; data are collected through (1) observation of the participants, (2) in-depth interviews with key informants, (3) interviews with background informants, and (4) a questionnaire. Data analysis and interpretation follow the qualitative paradigms of phenomenology and hermeneutics (Tesch, 1990). Further, Spindler's (1997) concept of transcultural sensitization has inspired the present study towards a better understanding of the phenomena and concepts involved in learning an additional language and culture.; Through its ethnographic approach, the present study shows that cultural factors significantly influenced the Chinese MBA students' sojourn in Canada and played a crucial role in various aspects of their academic work, their off-campus social interaction, their on-campus study-related interaction, and their relationships with Canadians. The present study is expected to contribute to a better understanding of language socialization in cross-cultural contexts and facilitate efficient language and professional training programs. With its emphasis on cross-cultural understanding on the conceptual level, it is further expected to contribute to the theory of language learning and language use in international settings.