Public Speaking

Culture Affects Public Speaking (^5)
The amount and types of available electronic resources allow students to take pub-
lic speaking courses in hybrid (partly online and partly face-to-face) or in entirely online
formats. Students who choose these courses like the flexibility of learning on their own
schedule. Of course, they need access to a computer, the Internet, and in entirely online
courses, some form of recording equipment. Research shows the outcomes to be very
similar between online and traditional courses, although the percentage of students who
complete the face-to-face course is higher than those who take it online. Key factors for
online success include the ability to work well independently and the match between the
online mode and the student’s learning style.^12
Cultures Provide Expectations about
Speaking and Listening
According to the Dutch theorist Geert Hofstede,^13 national cultures vary along an
individualistic-collectivist dimension. People in individualistic cultures depend more
on themselves and their immediate families. They’re judged on the basis of individ-
ual achievement and merits, and they learn to speak up to solve problems. The United
States, Australia, and Western European countries score highest on individualism.
Members of collectivist cultures, in contrast, are born into strong, cohesive in-groups
that protect them and to whom they are loyal. They may feel uncomfortable if they, and
not the group, are singled out for an honor, and they try to avoid shaming others. Many
Latin American and Asian countries score highest on collectivism.^14 Compare their pro-
nouns: People from individualistic cultures use comparatively more “I” and “my” words
than do people from collectivist cultures who prefer “we” and “our” pronouns. (Have
you ever noticed that English is the only language that capitalizes the word for “I” and
not the word for “you”?)^15
individualistic cultures
members of these cultures
depend mainly on themselves
and are judged on personal
merits
collectivist cultures
members of these cultures
are integrated into an in-
group that protects them
throughout their lives
Alicia Nilo
Today’s technology allows
students to take speaking
courses online where
they create videos of their
speeches and post them
online for classmates to see
and critique.
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