Department Five Scene 5 Siobhán and Eunice

Best practice solution:

Make sure your non-verbal communication techniques such as eye contact is acceptable among the culture in which you are practising in. Eunice did take into consideration the cultural use of eye contact and verbalised her discomfort - this is good practice and allows for cultural negotiation. Eunice could use this opportunity to explain further the use of eye contact in her ethic group, which may help Siobhán to understand and become more culturally competent.

What is the barrier to communication for Siobhán?

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Best practice solution:

Siobhán should have understood the concerns and issues that occurred for Eunice as her practices differed from the the dominant culture. In this instance Siobhán should be culturally sensitive to Eunice's experience of eye contact. Siobhán needs to develop an appreciation of diversity and have a discussion with Eunice about the different non verbal communication acts and then highlight what may be commonplace in the current professional context.

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