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Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

January/February 2001

Cross-Cultural Awareness
Session presented by Dr. Carmen Judith Nine-Curt, Retired Professor of English, University of Puerto Rico at the 2000 National Conference
by Georgia E. Myers, Mid-Atlantic Region President

They were dancing in the aisles and strutting across the stage. Sounds like fun and it was when Dr. Nine-Curt demonstrated cultural differences to us in Puerto Rico.

Doctora Carmen Judith Nine-Curt is a native of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. There she received her elementary and secondary education. She received her BA from St. Joseph’s College in Emmitsburg, MD. Her MA in British literature and Ed.D. in the teaching of English as a second language are both from Columbia University in New York City. Currently Dr. Nine-Curt gives over 50 lectures and workshops per year both in Puerto Rico and the United States on cross-cultural communication, temperament and teaching, and transactional analysis in the light of the Gospel.

Sensitivity to cultural differences, promoting fraternity among different cultural groups, the needs and aspirations of minority groups in the United States, and justice and fair treatment among all human beings are personal concerns of Doctor Nine-Curt.

Communication between people will forever be a function of linguistics. We learn nonverbal and value structures early in life. These are instinctive to us later in life when we communicate. The danger in cross-cultural communication is that of transferring patterns that function in one’s own culture but not in another. Whether Anglo or Hispanic, Vietnamese or American Black, we were made to communicate and share.

What is Culture?

Culture is a system of interrelated systems learned from birth to 8 years of age. They give a person his humanity, a sense of belonging to a community and a sense of identity. When withdrawn, one suffers culture shock or a sense of alienation.

Contrastive Analysis of Cultural Values Between Hispanics and North Americans

USA Cultural Values (A Work-oriented Culture)

1. Confrontation – Rambo, Superman, Ninja Turtles
2. Competition – Olympics, A,B,C,D,F Grade System
3. Individualism – You May Compete Against Close Friends And Relatives
4. Fair Play & Cooperation
5. Superficiality In Relationships
6. Equality Through Achievement
7. Informality – First Name Basis At High Executive Levels
8. Comfort
9. Materialistic – Respectful And Fascinated With The Material Worlds
10. Need To Be Liked
11. Future Oriented
12. “I”-ism
13. Self-motivation
14. Planning & Perfect
15. Serious & Intense
16. Celebration Of Effort

Hispanic Cultural Values (A Family Oriented Culture)

1. Indirection, Reticence – The Use Of Third Parties To Convey Bad News, Etc.
2. Support – The “Ay Bendito!”
3. Affiliation To Group – This Comes First To Family, Political & Religious Groups
4. Divisiveness – Consensus Is Difficult Among Different Groups
5. Intimacy – In A Matter Of Seconds
6. Class Ranking And Status
7. Formality – “Usted” And Titles Must Be Used
8. Style – Style Of Dress And Grooming Of Hair Indicates Mental Health, Good Manners And Respect For Others
9. Spiritualistic – The Dead Are Alive. Catholic Dogma Manifested In Varying Degrees Of Spiritism. Incredible Celebration In “All Souls Day”
10. Need To Be Loved – Friends And Relatives Are Very Demanding Of Your Affections & Loyalty
11. Present And Past Orientation
12. “We”-ism
13. Group (Family) Motivation
14. Improvisation
15. Happy-go-lucky & Relaxed
16. Celebration Of Life – 19 Official Holidays. Christmas is one month long.


To further understand and interact appropriately, especially at meetings
(interviews are meetings), the following chart is helpful:

Other Cultures

Since honesty and content are important, Americans may give negative feedback in public.

Since individual competition and self are important, Americans use confrontation at meetings.

Since personal assertiveness and power are important, Americans are spontaneous and overconfident at meetings.

Since equality and similarity are American values, they show no humility.

Since spontaneous opinions and being efficient are American values, they show off their role and put people in their places.

Since getting the job done & achievement are American Values, oftentimes they are inadequately prepared.

Since personal growth & self-actualization are American values, they may make decisions without all the input.

Since objectivity and facts are important for Americans, they place excessive differentiation on merit.

Since profit now and quantity are very important to Americans, they place great importance on constant analysis and justification.

Latin America

Since harmony and form are their values, they may not give any feedback at meetings.

Since group consciousness & the other person areimportant, they may not speak much at meetings.

Since personal hesitancy & humility are important they may say “yes” and agree regardless.

Since hierarchy & deference are important, they may be hesitant, tentative and apologetic at meetings.

Since they require comprehensive data & must be effective, they don’t feel they have to be personally accountable for things.

Women must do things right the first time, and be compliant so they need excessive details. Men act like Americans.

Since mentoring and role fulfillment are important for women, they may not act decisively. Men act like Americans.

Since relationships and feelings are very important, they place excessive dependence on process.

Since dependability and quality are most important, they have no initiative for problem solving.


Throughout her talk, Dr. Nine-Curt shared many interesting personal experiences. Her demonstrations of the different ways people walk and the speed of their speech were met with applause and laughter. Many heads were nodding in agreement as we recognized ourselves or acquaintances.

By far the way she chose to end her presentation was the hit of the conference. She chose males and females from the audience to partner up and dance the Merengue. At first the cultural differences were apparent to all – but after a few minutes everyone relaxed and the musical activity was enjoyed by all – dancers as well as those of us still in our seats.

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