Intercultural Communication Difficulties of Lower Context Culture Taiwanese Interns in Higher Context Culture Hotel Industry in Thailand

台灣實習生從較低情境文化至較高情境文化的泰國旅館實習之文化溝通初探

邱怡靜(Jean Chiu)

Intercultural Communication ； Cultural Identity ； Language Communication ； Hotel internships in Thailand ； 跨文化溝通 ； 文化認同 ； 語言溝通 ； 泰國旅館實習

國際文化研究

14卷2期（2018 / 12 / 01）

1 - 23

英文

The recent South-Bound Policy of Taiwan and the urge of international competitiveness in mobility have created opportunities of overseas internships of Taiwanese university students in five-star hotel chains in Thailand. However, not much literature focused on their cultural identity, language and cross-cultural communication difficulties in their internships. The study utilized qualitative research with in-depth interviews of six Taiwanese interns by stratified sampling of top three tourist regions in Thailand. The results indicated moderate cultural identity issue and cross-cultural communication difficulties by English in areas outside metropolitan Bangkok, coupled with the Thai-mixed rising endings which may appear to be question-sentences to non-Thais. Additionally, due to larger power distance in higher context culture where authority are to be respected and obeyed, Taiwanese interns may encounter cross-cultural challenges in denying, rejecting to obey, and desiring to defend in customers' complaints and supervisors' comments. Future researchers are recommended to investigate other Southeastern nations, regions, and Taiwanese interns' local supervisors to better comprehend the issue for optimal intercultural communication competence and international mobility.

近年來因台灣的南向政策及跨國移動力，台灣大學生赴泰國五星旅館實習日益增多，但研究文獻鮮少專注於台灣大學生在泰國旅館業實習上，文化認同、語言及跨文化溝通上的障礙。本研究分層抽樣深度訪談六位在泰國三大地區實習之經歷，研究結果發現: 相較之下，實習生的文化認同是項相對較小的挑戰。語言溝通的困難，在於曼谷以外的低階泰籍員工英語能力有限，台灣英語主修生需簡化英語口語結構。其次，泰式英文摻雜泰語尾音及上揚音調容易使台灣實習生誤以為是問句，造成跨文化溝通障礙。另外，泰國為較高情境文化，權威距離高，因此來自為較低情境文化、權威距離相對小的台灣實習生，需要更尊敬，服從上司的指令，也當更敏感於高情境文化對於否定，拒絕與面對客訴時的不同處理與回應。本文研究建議未來研究可著重於不同東南亞國家、地域實習職務所需之能力並訪談相關主管人員，期以更全面地發展跨文化溝通及跨國移動力。

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1. Yi-Ching Chiu(2022).Exploring Hybrid EAP Writing Facilitated by the Holistic Shepherd Leadership Approach for SDG Issues.Taiwan International ESP Journal,13(1),65-99.
2. (2023)。Exploring Challenges of Taiwanese Business Management's Cross-Cultural Communication Dimensions in Indonesia。國際文化研究，19(1)，1-31。