SDLC 105:Learning Journal #2

[Shuyi Chen]

Based on the reading “Figuring Foreigners Out”, I did the exercise with one of my Korean friends.  Koreans tend to be more collectivist. It means that they value harmony and the interdependence of group members. Group members always maintain close relationships both in psychological and emotional aspects. So Korean embrace the value that harmony, peace in a groups are much more important than reaching goals in conversations. This fact in Korean culture also directs me to consider the indirection communication cultures in Korean. People tend to imply rather than say things directly in order not to break the harmony. As a result, people under this culture are able to understand the implication without words. Then nonverbal communication such as body languages could be understandable intuitively among intimate Korean groups, which is interesting that how the linguistic aspects reflect the cultures.