Intercultural Interactions With Students From China, Japan, &

KoreaCan You Tell Them Apart?

NAFSA: Association of International Educators52nd Annual Conference

Dr. Rodolfo Altamirano, The University of Michigan (rudiea@umich.edu)

Mr. Jin Abe, Western Michigan University (jin.abe@wmich.edu)Dr. Dan Pak , The University of Michigan (dpak@umich.edu)

Ms. Kate Zheng, The University of Michigan (xdzheng@umich.edu)

Education

China State Education

Commission (SEC)

-Central Control-

Japan Ministry of

Education Culture, Sports,

Science and Technology

Over-intervention of the government over education

Korea Ministry of

Education and Human

Resources Development

Central authority of Korean educational system

Education

China 6-3-3-4 system 9-year

compulsory education

-Educational Structure-

Japan 6-3-3-4 system

(shift to 6-6-4 system)

Korea 6-3-3-4 system

Education

China Annual college

entrance examination (gaokao) 3-day long in July

-College Entrance Examination-

Japan Alleviation of

examination hell among less prestigious schools

Decline of higher education population

Korea An examination

hell Produces lots of

victims every year

Education

China Majorities for

graduate level studies

Few for undergraduate/ exchange program studies

-Categories of Students Studying Abroad-

Japan Junior & high

school students High school

students who feel that Japanese universities are not good enough

Graduate program Language learning

Korea Junior high & high school

students High school graduates who

failed to get admission to the college they wanted to get into

Bachelors’ or masters’ degree holders

Language learners Exchange or self-financed

study abroad students

Education

China Make better

contribution to the society

Better education Pursue better life Avoid social

complications

-Why Study Abroad-

Japan Globalization Fashion Better education Training for self-

growth/change

Korea Globalization Economic growth of Korea Brand equity of US colleges Change of major Media of instruction Better opportunities New technology and

science Better chance for admission

Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean Values

China Education is above all Collectivism Intragroup harmony Loyalty Family Save face (lianmian) Seniority Social status Patience

Japan Loyalty to multiple

groups (esp. company for males)

Symbolic hierarchy Collective face

(mentsu) Education Knowing without

verbalizing (sasshi)

Korea Loyalty Harmony Family Trust Respect Face (kibun) Confucianism Dedication to Work Education Nunchi Age Can-do Spirit

Korean’s Self Image Courteous and Respectful Thoughtful and Warmhearted Generous Pacifist Proud of Own Culture and Smartness Talk Proudly of Own Family Background Patriotic Resilient Hasty and Action-Oriented

Japanese’s Self Image

Looking for someone to provide a meaning of life

Chinese’s Self Image

Success

Characteristic Behaviors

China Distinction in

position Intimacy (family) Trust, loyalty

(friends)

-Principles in Human Relations-

Japan Multiple

group harmony is valued

Diffused self

Korea The 3 Fundamental Principles:

The King is the mainstay of the state Father is the mainstay of the family The husband is the mainstay of the wife

The 5 Moral Disciplines: Between friends, trust Between king and ministers, loyalty Between father and son, intimacy Between elder and younger, respect Between husband and wife, distinction

in position

Characteristic Behaviors

-Collectivism (Group Harmony)-

China “We” (group-

orientated) Consensus Individualism

(selfish)

Japan “We” (group)-

orientated) Return of favor is

almost subconscious

Korea A group-centered

society, “we” Consensus is very

important to promoting and maintaining harmony

Individualism often viewed as selfishness

Characteristic Behaviors

-Hierarchical Society (Power Distance)-

China Vertical

architecture (seniority, position)

Japan Symbolic hierarchy Show respect and

proper honorifics Less and less power

difference Western value

influence leading to collapse of authority

Korea Vertical social

architecture (age, social status)

• Show respect and proper honorifics

Characteristic Behaviors

-Different Personal Space and Touch-

China Population in most

places in high density

Seems rude and pushy to foreigners

Touch the same sex but not different sex

Follow the flow or out of the place

Japan Densely populated

island Some rigid concept of

personal space Looks rude and pushy

to foreigners and out group members

Touch the different sex but not the same sex

Korea Most densely

populated land No rigid concept of

personal space Looks rude and

pushy to foreigners Touch the same sex

but not different sex

Characteristic Behaviors

-Use of Time-

China Official context:

punctuality Unofficial

context: unexpected, flexible

Japan Basically mono-

chronic Punctuality

Korea Poly-chronic Traditional

Korean approach to time

Characteristic Behaviors

-Handing of criticism-

China Save face

(lianmian)

Japan Collective Saving Face

(Maintaining public image of the group)

Embarrassment, followed by apology

Korea Try not to criticize

someone in public Choose the proper

time and not to hurt someone’s Kibun (emotion)

Characteristic Behaviors

-Humility and Modesty

China Keqi Self-deprecation Good listener

(respect, good manner and education)

Japan Sign of being mature Avoid and suppress

competition on the outside (to save face)

Minimization (Sorry, I don’t know that much)

Korea A sign of manners

and good breeding

Characteristic Behaviors

-Homogeneity-

China Diversity is

discouraged

Japan Being different is

discouraged Xenophobia and pro-

Western minds

Korea No diversity

accepted (group harmony)

Xenophobia

Characteristic Behaviors

-Drinking-China

No age limit A way to build

trust among family members, friends, colleagues, classmates

Japan One of the few

accepted ways (especially for men, but increasingly for women) of telling true feelings among colleagues

Korea Generous attitude One of the only

accepted ways (especially for men) of building rapport and trust

Communication Styles-High Context Communication-

China Indirect (jianjie) Implicit

Japan Indirect communication

styles (Sasshi) Intricately tied to

relationship/context (with whom are we speaking?)

Potential means of saving face

Judicious eye contact to pay proper respect

Korea Indirect communication

styles (Nunchi) Uncertainty avoidance Relationships are more

important than task Indirect non-

confrontational approach to problem solving

Implicit and intuitive

Communication Styles-Poly- and Mono-chronic Communication-

China Monochronic

conversation (seniority, social status)

Polychronic conversation in all other levels

Japan Time is organized

linearly at work Polychronic in social

settings

Korea More than two

conversations at a time is fine

Communication Styles-Non-assertive Communication-

China Say “no” in

different ways

Japan Saying “no” in 16

ways Preserving symbolic

hierarchy

Korea Do not confront with

others, especially, higher status and position holders

Communication Styles-Non-verbal Communication-

China Listening Say little Respond in

different ways (gesture, sound) to show respect

Japan Subtle but rich source

of information Trained not to talk

much Verbose people are

not well respected Silence is a part of the

conversation

Korea Trained not to talk

much Verbose people are

not well respected Silence is a part of

the conversation

Communication Styles-Conflict Resolution-

China Enhance harmony

and avoid friction (be tolerant of others)

Japan Apologizing Accommodating Willing to put

oneself down to avoid conflict to a certain extent

Korea Avoid open

admission of conflict Conflict is viewed as

one dimension of the on-going relationship

Avoiding, accommodating and compromising

Adapted from the work of:

Insoo Cho and Yuichi Kondo

“Cross Cultural Counseling with Korean & Japanese Students” (2001)