1.4 Interview with Professor Byram
You will now listen to an interview with Professor Mike Byram, who has been very influential in the area of intercultural communicative competence in Europe. Working in collaboration with other scholars, as part of a project funded by the Council of Europe, he developed the concept of intercultural encounters.
Activity 7
Listen to ‘Interview with Mike Byram’. As you listen, think about the following question and write your answer in the box:
How does Mike Byram define an intercultural encounter?
Answer
Byram defines an intercultural encounter as a situation in which someone interacts with a person from another social group and where group identity plays a prominent role. This means that different behavioural norms and different sets of values and beliefs are apparent and may be the source of some unease.
Activity 8
Listen again to ‘Interview with Mike Byram’. Which of the following examples of possible intercultural encounters does Mike Byram give? Select those that you hear.
Activity 9
In the interview Mike Byram gives four examples of intercultural encounters, each of them illustrating a particular type of difference. The first one he mentions is a British academic visiting the USA. In this case, his example illustrates national differences. What other kinds of differences do the remaining examples illustrate? Use one word to describe each.
1 Someone from the north-east of England has a meeting with someone from the south.
Answer
Regional
2 Two people of different professions interact with each other.
Answer
Professional
3 A Protestant teacher educator visits trainees in a Catholic school.
Answer
Religious
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