Cultural awareness refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and respect cultural differences and similarities. It is about becoming sensitive to how people live and interact, shaped by factors such as religion, language, customs, and traditions. (UNIS Communications Team, 2025, para. 1)

Language is a system of communication that relies on verbal or non-verbal codes to transfer information. Communication is a way of interchanging messages or information between two or more people, focusing on the message. (International Language Services, 2024).

“Cultural awareness in language and communication is recognizing cultural differences and adapting communication to build understanding.”

●      Learning about other cultures and languages

●      Being open-minded and respectful

●      Sensitivity to non-verbal cues

●      Practicing empathy

●      Misinterpretation of gestures or tone

●      Ethnocentrism (my culture is the best)

●      Cultural bias (judging through your own culture’s lens)

●      Stereotyping (oversimplifying a group with fixed labels)