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| Scenes from the talk show. |
Attending the talk show on Intercultural Communication: A Lever to Becoming a Global Citizen, organized by the Information, Library and Museum Center of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, young people in general and students in particular had the opportunity to broaden their thinking and improve their integration skills after listening to and exchanging ideas with scientists and language experts.
Global citizens of the future
In her opening question at the talk show, "Is simply being proficient in English enough to communicate effectively with foreigners?", Dr. Bui Thu Hang, Director of the Information, Library and Museum Center, emphasized that the answer is "not necessarily." According to her, intercultural communication is not just about using the right words and sentences, but also about the ability to listen, observe, understand the context, respect differences, and refine one's behavior to truly connect with the other person.
The speaker at the program, Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang, lecturer at the Faculty of History and International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, with many years of research and teaching experience in various countries around the world, stated: Global citizenship is an open mindset, through which we view the world as a unified common home and share common global issues such as the environment and current international events. Today, global citizenship is not just about going out into the world; the world is becoming increasingly "flat," and the world is reaching out to Vietnam. At the same time, each person can connect with the world daily through accessing information, reading various sources, and using social media platforms…
Vietnam is in an era of progress, expanding its relationships with many countries around the world. Therefore, young people in the context of integration always need to equip themselves with the necessary tools and skills.
Skills are developed through practice.
The story of global citizenship is not a theoretical one, but a real issue facing Vietnam and each individual. However, according to experts, there are always certain obstacles to successfully integrating and confidently connecting in a multicultural environment.
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| Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang, lecturer at the Faculty of History and International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, discusses the topic of global citizenship with students. |
Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang analyzed: In the theory of intercultural communication, there is the theory of the Cultural Iceberg. According to this theory, culture has a visible and a hidden part. The easily observable parts, such as clothing, food, and greetings, only account for about 10%. Meanwhile, the less noticeable part, which often accounts for up to 90%, is about values, assumptions, attitudes towards time, power, and relationships. Misunderstandings often begin in the hidden part. For example, the same behavior, "looking directly into someone's eyes when talking," can be interpreted in many ways: it could be seen as confident and sincere, or it could be seen as disrespectful. In this case, both interpretations could be correct depending on the context.
According to Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang, there are four essential competencies in intercultural communication. First, observing what actually happened; second, listening—how does the other person perceive the situation? Third, explaining—what do I expect? Fourth, adjusting my speech to be more appropriate. Emphasizing that these competencies are developed through practice, not rote memorization, Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang shared three environments where young people can practice: in the classroom, at work, and online.
To enhance connection in a multicultural environment, one also needs the skill to transform ideas into clear, confident, and persuasive presentations that appeal to audiences from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and educational levels. This is a highly practical skill for students and young people, serving both their studies and careers. Sharing his insights on this, Mr. Pham Cong Nhat, Director of Communications at DOL English (Ho Chi Minh City), emphasized several "keys" to effective public speaking, such as: clarity of message, relevance to the audience, persuasive appearance, body language, interaction during the presentation, proper note-taking, and awareness and effective management of distractions.
The connection between global citizenship and identity emphasizes understanding others without requiring the abandonment of oneself. Therefore, it is crucial to know who we are, understand our differences, and find ways to cooperate. Because identity can become the starting point for dialogue.
Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang, Lecturer, Faculty of History and International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City
Belief in yourself
Master Pham Cong Nhat stated: "No one can step onto the stage and present fluently and persuasively without practice. We must strive to practice because this is the secret to effective presentation. Besides that, you must have faith in yourself, and belief is extremely important."
It is evident that in today's era of progress, every citizen has a responsibility to actively contribute to preserving national identity while actively integrating into the international community. In particular, the younger generation, the future of the country, needs to enhance their communication skills and integrated thinking by understanding and respecting cultural differences, confidently connecting in a multinational environment, and proactively adapting to the dynamics of the global era… This is the best way to develop themselves and contribute to the building and development of the nation.
Thuy Trang
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202610/tu-tin-ket-noi-trong-moi-truong-quoc-te-8f92438/
