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Showing posts from September, 2023

Non-verbal communication

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  Non-verbal communication plays a significant role in Spanish culture, just as it does in many other cultures. Here are three examples of non-verbal communication in Spanish culture: Kissing on the Cheek (Besos) : In Spain, it's common to greet people with a kiss on each cheek, especially among friends and family. This gesture signifies warmth, affection, and closeness. Eye Contact: In Spanish culture, maintaining good eye contact is a sign of confidence, attentiveness, and respect. During conversations, it's essential to look directly into the other person's eyes to show that you are engaged and trustworthy. However, excessively prolonged eye contact may be seen as aggressive, so it's crucial to strike a balance. Proximity and Personal Space: In Spain very similar as we do in Colombia, people tend to stand closer to each other during conversations compared to cultures with larger personal space. This proximity is a sign of intimacy and engagement in the conversatio

Hofstede and Lewis Cultural Models

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 Analyzing Spanish culture in the Hofstede Cultural Model, we can find: Individualism vs. Collectivism: Spain tends to lean towards collectivism. Family and social relationships are highly valued, and there's a strong sense of community, This is actually very similar as we do in Colombia. This is reflected in close-knit family structures and social gatherings, where people often come together to celebrate and support one another in their personal and work life. Spain also has a relatively high power distance, meaning hierarchies are respected, and there's a certain level of deference to authority figures. In business, this may translate into a respect for seniority longevity and titles within organizations.

STEREOTYPES

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— Spaniards are lazy people ; they don’t like to work, and they always sleep the siesta This is obviously very wrong as in the European Union , Spaniards have the longest working hours, and they work very hard . They have a very strong economy , and they don’t achieve this by taking the 'siesta'. Yes, Spanish people tend to like sleeping during the siesta, but the harsh truth is that only 20% of Spaniards can do so , and they are mostly retirees or people with low-intensity work . —  Spaniards eat paella all the time Although this is not entirely true, Spanish people do love Paella. It is the most famous Spanish dish , and in most of the traditional restaurants in the country, you can find it on the menu . —  Spaniards are passionate lovers Many movie watchers have probably seen the typical character who is like a playboy, a 'Macho,' and he is originally from Spain . But thes