Intercultural Communication EAP Activities, Worksheets & Role-Plays

EAP Intercultural Communication Worksheet - Reading and Writing Exercises: Comprehension Questions, Paragraph Writing - Speaking Activity: Guided Discussion, Freer Practice In this useful intercultural communication worksheet, students learn about direct and indirect communication styles and the importance of understanding cultural differences. First, in pairs, students discuss questions related to intercultural communication. Students then match terms from a text they are going to read to definitions. Next, students read the text and compare the information presented to their responses in the first exercise. After that, students answer questions about intercultural communication and then discuss their answers with a partner. Students then read a text about communication styles and answer comprehension questions. Finally, students reflect on the ideas from the text and write a paragraph that explains how they can use their knowledge of direct and indirect communication styles to improve their intercultural interactions in a specific context of their life. show less

EAP Intercultural Communication Activity - Speaking and Writing: Discussion, Identifying, Problem Solving, Answering Questions, Presenting, Communicative Practice - Group Work In this insightful intercultural communication activity, students analyse academic scenarios using Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory and propose solutions for resolving intercultural misunderstandings. First, in groups, students read a set of cultural dimension reference cards based on Hofstede's cultural dimensions. Students then take turns picking up a situation card and reading it aloud. The group then discusses questions from the board and chooses at least two strategies from a Solution Strategies sheet for each situation, explaining why they believe those strategies would be effective. After 15 minutes, groups choose one situation card they discussed to prepare a case analysis presentation. Students then complete a case analysis worksheet and prepare to present to the class, with each group member contributing during the presentation. Groups then take turns presenting their case analysis to the class, who listen and ask follow-up questions at the end. Finally, in pairs, students discuss one interesting thing they learned about cultural differences during the activity and one thing they could do to prevent an intercultural misunderstanding in the future. show less

EAP Intercultural Communication Activity - Speaking: Role-Play, Guided Discussion, Freer and Communicative Practice - Group Work This intriguing intercultural communication role-play helps students identify direct and indirect communication styles across cultures and reflect and adapt their own style to prevent misunderstandings and resolve conflicts in multicultural settings. Students are divided into multicultural teams, with each member taking on a specific role: direct communicator, indirect communicator, mediator, or observer. Teams then engage in a 15-minute discussion aimed at resolving a conflict, during which the direct and indirect communicators exchange perspectives while the mediator facilitates mutual understanding and guides the group toward a solution. Throughout this process, the observer carefully monitors the interaction, taking notes on communication patterns and any misunderstandings that arise. Afterwards, the observers present their insights and provide feedback on how effectively their groups navigated cultural differences. Each group then gives feedback on their communication approaches and share how they achieved their resolution. Finally, students discuss questions related to communication styles as a class. show less

EAP Intercultural Communication Game - Reading and Speaking: Matching, Discussion, Brainstorming, Problem-solving, Presenting, Communicative Practice - Group Work In this thought-provoking intercultural communication game, students match cultural academic values to different country profiles, discuss potential intercultural conflicts and develop strategies to resolve them. First, in teams, students read country profile cards that represent cultural academic values in different countries around the world. Teams then match three academic expectations to each country profile, scoring one point for each correctly matched expectation. Next, teams choose two country profiles with distinct or opposing values, discuss a possible conflict that could arise when students from these cultures meet in an international programme, and brainstorm possible resolutions to the conflict. After that, teams fill in a conflict resolution card with the conflict and a summary of the best resolution strategy they brainstormed. This process repeats for the remaining two cards. Finally, teams present their conflict and resolution strategies to the class. Teams score up to three points for each conflict and resolution presented, based on the clarity of the presentation, the validity of the potential conflict and the effectiveness of the resolution strategy. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. show less

EAP Intercultural Communication Activity - Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Freer and Communicative Practice In this free intercultural communication 'Find Someone Who' activity, students ask and answer questions about cultural differences and cross-cultural experiences in academic settings. First, students review the yes/no questions they need to ask in the activity, e.g. 'Have you talked with someone from a different country in class this term?' Students then go around the class, asking their classmates the intercultural communication questions. When a student finds someone who answers 'yes' to a question, they write down the person's name and ask a follow-up question to gain more information, noting down the answer in the last column. If a classmate replies 'no', the student repeats the question with another person or asks a different question. This process continues until the students have completed each item on the worksheet with a different name and answer, one classmate per item. Afterwards, students give feedback to the class on the answers they collected, e.g. contrasting preferences or surprising responses. show less

EAP Intercultural Communication Game - Vocabulary: Bingo, Matching - Group Work In this engaging intercultural communication game, students play bingo by matching intercultural terms with their meanings and briefly using them in context. In groups, the bingo caller reads a definition at random from the caller's sheet, e.g. 'Understanding and recognising differences between cultures.' The players listen and look at the intercultural communication words and phrases written on their bingo cards to see if they have one that matches the definition, e.g. cultural awareness. If they do, they cross it off. The game continues until a player has crossed off four words or phrases in a row. When this happens, the player shouts 'Bingo!' and then makes a related sentence with each crossed-off word or phrase to verify their win. If the player makes a mistake in any of the four sentences, they are allowed one chance to fix it. If they correct it, the win counts. If the player fails to correct the mistake or the words and phrases are wrong, the bingo is void, and the game continues. If the sentences are correct and the words or phrases match the definitions, the player wins the round. Players then continue to see who can cross off all 16 intercultural terms first without making sentences. Groups play several rounds, with students taking turns being the bingo caller and players using a different bingo card each time. show less