OK, this is a strange question...

I don't know if this is the appropriate forum for this question. I am working on a homework assignment for AJU, and I need to get some feedback from people who live, or have lived, in a non-Western culture. The problem I am working on is this:

"Ask several people who have lived in non-Western cultures whether the cultural values that affect group communication in the United States are present in the countries where thy lived. In your conversation, explore how differences in cultural values affect group interaction. Summarize your findings."

So, I need to find out how cultural differences affect group communication in the non-Western culture you live(d) in, versus the United States. I should stress I'm looking for input, not someone to do my work for me. I have to compile my findings and apply them to my current lesson. I should also point out this is a non-graded assignment. If you can help, please PM your comments to me. It will help if I know which country and culture you are referring to.

I apologize if this isn't the appropriate place to post this, but I wasn't sure if the other forums were any more appropriate, and there are a lot of bright people here from all over the world, so this was the first place I thought to ask.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

Just some thoughts. It would be difficult to assess the cultural differences, unless you have lived in the US and another culture. Even then, the period you have been away from the native culture will be relevant.

A friend of mine recently went back to Italy after being away for twenty years and found difficulties in communication because language is not static. She had also acquired different understandings because of her adopted culture.

The question also assumes that western culture is something generic and includes the US. There may be some core values for the west, but there will be substantial differences in communication between western cultural groups. Could this might be the same in the US for different groups as well?

I have often found in my studies that the question makes assumptions which the lecturer wants you to discuss before proceeding to the expected answer. A big question. All the best.