Aubrey Karsch

Comm 2150-2
Cultural Change Final Report
Overview
This semester I am working on Social Flexibility. My goal is to talk to people more rather than
just keep to myself. For chapter 8 I worked on being patient with the change I was trying to make
in myself. I reflected on the progress I have made so far. For chapter 9 I talked to a classmate
about a part of popular culture, their cell phone. She told me how she likes having a smart phone.
For chapter 10 I didnt include my boyfriend in hanging out with my friends because he usually
doesnt like to. We both had a good time apart. For chapter 11 I observed the kinds of conflict I
encountered. I had conflicts at work and in my personal life that I needed to deal with.
Competency Area
The competency area I am working on is Social Flexibility. This dimension measures how well I
adjust in social situations to fit in, in order to build good relationships with others (Mckay 8).
I am working on Social Flexibility because I dont often talk to people. I keep to myself and sort
of avoid casual conversation with others. When people I dont know well, like classmates and
customers, try to talk to me I often give short answers and nod. I dont try to engage partly
because I am shy, and partly because I am not that interested in the conversation. At work people
will try to have small talk with me as I am ringing them up. I give short answers and nod, and
just say what I am supposed to say to them and get them on their way. In class, people will try to
have small talk and I give short answers and nod until the teacher starts talking so I can just pay
attention to them. This pattern is ineffective because I am closed off and I dont get to form new
relationships. (What is not said is often as important as what is spoken) (Martin and Nakayama
274). My nonverbal codes, not responding conversationally and not continuing conversation,
probably sends the signal that I am not interested in talking. And that is kind of what I felt. But I
want to change that.
Goal
I would like to increase my social flexibility by talking to people I dont know well. This
includes initiating casual conversation in class with classmates and at work with customers. I
will talk more with classmates and with customers in order to create opportunities to get to know
new people and new things. I will come out of my shell to want to engage in casual conversation
with people I dont know well.
Chapter 8 Transitions
Tactic 8
I am going to work on being patient. Any change in yourself is going to take time. I will reflect
twice this week on just how far Ive come. I will think about the progress Ive made. 5. Be
patient. Adjusting to new culture takes time and happens in increments (Martin and Nakayama
340).
Tactic Implementation
In reflecting upon my progress I have found that I have made changes. I find it easier to talk to
customers and people in class. In meeting with my classmates to discuss our journals, they told

me that they have also seen progress. I sit next to a girl in another one of my classes and talk
with her regularly. I am branching out more and talking to more people. Although I havent
bloomed into a social butterfly like I hoped for, I am making changes and they are affecting me
positively.
Tactic Recommendations
I will definitely continue with this course of action. Reflecting on how far Ive come has helped
me to see that Im not going to move mountains in the course of a semester, but I can
progressively move past my barriers in time. Whenever I feel like I am getting nowhere, I will
tell myself to look back at the beginning of the semester. I didnt talk to anyone, I didnt speak
up in class, I didnt try hard to voice my opinion in groups. But now I am doing all of those
things. Why are some transitions easier for some people and more difficult for others? (Martin
and Nakayama 318-319). Sometimes I feel dumb because most other people dont have an issue
with talking to others. But I realize it is just something I can overcome and can always look back
at the progress I have made.
Chapter 9 Popular Culture
Tactic 9
I am going to talk to one person about their cell phone this week because cell phones are popular
culture and I am looking into getting a new one. I have a dumb phone; a phone that isnt touch
screen or wi-fi capable. I have been resisting getting a smartphone until recently. Now I feel the
pressure to get one It is difficult to avoid popular culture. Not only is it ubiquitous but it also
serves an important social function (Martin and Nakayama 362).
Tactic Implementation
I talked to a girl in one of my classes about her cell phone. She has a Samsung Galaxy. I have
always had an old phone and not been interested in getting a smartphone. Lately I have been
looking into getting a smartphone because I feel left out of social media. Just like with t.v.
shows, people ask their friends all the time if they have seen something on social media. I dont
have access to all of that unless I have my laptop with me. In talking to the girl about her phone,
I decided that if I do get a smartphone, it will be a Samsung Galaxy.
Tactic Recommendations
I still havent decided if I am getting a smartphone. The main thing is the money. It would be
cool to connect with others the way most people do. I could improve my intercultural
communication in a popular culture context by getting a smartphone just because I would know
what is going on. When my friends say, Have you heard of this? I can say yes and then we can
talk about it. Right now I say no and they drop the subject. How many times have you been
asked by friends and family for your reaction to a recent movie or TV program? (Martin and
Nakayama 362). I would alleviate this problem if I would stop being stubborn and fork out the
money for a Samsung Galaxy.
Chapter 10 Relationships
Tactic 10

I usually like for my boyfriend to come with me when I go hang out with friends, but I am not
going to do that this week. I am just going to tell him that Im going and that I will see him later.
Where we like to spend our time is different, so we are going to have to learn how to balance
that. Research shows that the most successful relationships have a balance of differences and
similarities (Martin and Nakayama 399).
Tactic Implementation
I spent all of that Saturday with my friends and my boyfriend spent his day at home. My
boyfriend is a homebody and I like to go out on my days off. We always ask each other to do
what we want to do, and someone ends up less than happy. When I saw him later that night we
told each other how our days went. We both had a good time doing what we wanted to do.
Tactic Recommendations
I am going to continue with this tactic. It benefitted both my boyfriend and myself. Instead of
begging him to go out with me, I will just go out with friends and he can stay home. Of course,
sometimes he will go out with me and sometimes I will stay home with him, but it wont be an
argument. I have learned that I cant make him want to go out anymore than he can make me
want to stay home. We have to learn to live with that and I think that shouldnt be too hard. The
style that is the most desirable, not surprisingly, is the consensus style, which is based on
agreement and negotiation (Martin and Nakayama 419).
Chapter 11 Conflict
Tactic 11
I will observe the kind of approach to conflict exhibited at school, at work, and in my personal
relationships twice this week. I will see what kind of conflict is used and what cultures use that
kind of approach to conflict. Conflict is usually defined as involving a perceived or real
incompatibility of goals, values, expectations, processes, or outcomes between two or more
interdependent individuals or groups (Martin and Nakayama 436).
Tactic Implementation
At work I noticed that if I have conflict with a customer I am easily frustrated. I try to explain
things to them and they dont get it or get mad because its something they dont want to hear,
and I get mad. I usually end up calling a co-worker or manager over to deal with the conflict
because I am having a hard time keeping my cool. The customer is often not willing to calm
down and listen to me and they think I dont know how to do my job. So I call someone else over
to try to explain things to them. My boyfriend and I had an argument and I noticed that when we
argue, we are both very expressive. We are frustrated and can get animated and loud because of
it. I am an expressive person during conflict. This is a characteristic of American culture.
Tactic Recommendations
I will continue with this tactic because it helps to take a step back and see how you are acting.
Maybe my frustration at work came because my customer and I had two different ways of
dealing with conflict. Especially at work where I see and work with many different people, I
need to watch what I am doing so as not to upset them or possibly escalate the situation.
Sometimes, we can apply the principles of dialectics; other times, we may need to step back and

show self-restraint. Occasionally, though, it may be more appropriate to assert ourselves and not
be afraid of strong emotion (Martin and Nakayama 455).
Reflection
Cultural Change Final Report
Comm 2150
In this 4-6 page paper, typed, single space, you will appraise your progress and experience using
the following headings.
Overview
Competency Area
Goal
Chapter 8 Transitions
Tactic 8
Tactic Implementation
Tactic Recommendations
Chapter 9 Popular Culture
Tactic 9
Tactic Implementation
Tactic Recommendations
Chapter 10 Relationships
Tactic 10
Tactic Implementation
Tactic Recommendations
Chapter 11 Conflict
Tactic 11
Tactic Implementation
Tactic Recommendations
Reflection *(new section)
Work Cited
Attachments
Overview
In one or two sentences summarize the content of each section. The reader should know from
your overview how successful your project has been. The overview should read as one smoothly
flowing paragraph.
Competency Area
Define the competency area you selected in your Change Proposal.
Example:
Competency: Relationship Interest- This dimension measures the extent to which I have a
genuine interest in other people (McKay 7).
Describe in depth your weakness in this area. Illustrate with two or three typical, specific
conversations from the past, when you were experiencing this unwanted communication pattern,
Explain the consequences- how did this pattern impact you and your relationship. Include
information from the textbook or other sources that explains why this type of pattern is
ineffective.

Goal:
Include a description of the goal you set for yourself this semester. You have already briefly
outlined this goal in your proposal submitted earlier.
Example:
Goal: I chose to increase my relationship interest by becoming a better friend with someone
from a different culture than myself. This includes initiating connection with one particular
acquaintance, Maria.
Tactics
Describe in depth the tactics you chose from each chapter that you wanted to implement to meet
your goal. You have already briefly described some of these strategies in your Progress Report.
For each chapter include the following headings.
Chapter # and Title
Example:
Chapter 5 Identity and Intercultural Communication
Tactic # List the specific tactic/communication behavior that you are applying to help you
achieve your goal/competency. Include in-text citations for each chapter.
Example:
Tactic 2: I think I have not shared much of myself with Maria and have not really learned much
about her. I have assumed she is Mexican but after reading about avowal and ascription of
identities I realize I may have ascribed the wrong identity to Maria. Avowal is how Maria
identifies herself and ascription is the identity I give to Maria (Martin and Nakayama 167169). When we see each other in class this week Im going to share with her one personal
experience about my family and where we are from. I will also ask her about her family and
where she is from. The text says ethnic identity and national identity are different (Martin and
Nakayama 197). I hope to learn more about how Maria sees her ethnic and national identity in
this conversation.
Tactic Implementation Describe the following:
How are you applying the tactic to your own relationships? Draw from your journal
entries to help illustrate with specific examples.
How is this change being received by the other person(s) in the relationship?
What are the positive consequences of this new behavior?
What problems, frustrations or setbacks are you experiencing with your new behavior?
Tactic Recommendations Outline your plans for future interactions:
Will you continue your present course of actions? Why or why not?
Will you modify your actions or change your tactic? Why?
Support your recommendations with citations from the text.
Reflection Write several paragraphs answering the following reflective questions. Please give
specific examples.
What process did you go through to complete this Report assignment? Copy instructors
Final Report instructions.

 How does this assignment illustrate the growth/change/progress you have had in this
class?
How can you apply what youve learned in this class to other classes, to the workplace,
and/or to other areas of your life? Please be sincere. Dont over-inflate your claims.
Upload your Final Report to your ePortfolio and
Post your name and eportfolio link on Mypage and in an email to your instructor.
Works Cited: Include a complete bibliography for your text and any additional authoritative
references that you have cited in your progress report. Use MLA format.
Example:
Work Cited
Martin, Judith N. and Thomas K. Nakayama. Intercultural Communication in Contexts. 6th Ed.
Boston, MA: McGrawHill, 2013.
McKay, Shirene. Intercultural Communication Learning Packet. Salt Lake City, UT: SLCC,
2014.
Attachments: Attach all journal entries for chapters 5-11. Do NOT put the report in a folder.
Just staple the pages. Cant wait to read about your final report.
This assignment shows that I have grown in this class. I always wanted to branch out and
get out of my comfort zone, but never had any real motivation. Now Im talking to people in
class and at work and Im making my voice heard in group assignments instead of just nodding. I
think this class has affected me for the better and I will continue on this path.
I will continue to use what I have learned in this class in all areas of my life. I encounter
other cultures at work a lot and now I understand some of what goes on in our communication.
Some people dont talk much at the register, and some do, and that may just be a part of their
culture and I am glad to accomodate. Personally, I will have an easier time simply talking to
people because of the tactics I have learned. This will allow me to make more friends and have
opportunities to have new experiences and learn new things about others. When I get into my
career, I will be better equipped to deal with different communication styles.
I have always been an introvert, and I used to think that was a bad thing. Society has
made being an introvert a bad thing, but it shouldnt be; its just a personality trait (Marin, 2014).
Introversion has been an obstacle for me and I think I will always have a tendency to be this way.
But I know its not a bad thing and I know how to get out of that zone when I need to because of
this class. I didnt become the social butterfly I was hoping to become, but thats okay, because
thats not who I am. I have come far and I continue to work on being more social, but I dont
have to do a complete one-eighty. The point of social flexibility is being able to change
according to the situation as long as you are in that situation. I think I can do that well now.
Work Cited
Marin, Chandra. "." , . 4 Nov. 2014. Class Lecture.
Martin, Judith N. and Thomas K. Nakayama. Intercultural Communication in Contexts. 6th Ed.
Boston, MA: McGrawHill, 2013.
Mckay, Shirene. Intercultural Communication Learning Packet. Salt Lake City, UT: SLCC,

2014.