Written by Alice TRAN ANH LOAN

In a recent online guest lecture, a young, multilingual Swedish speaker provided a fascinating glimpse into the cultural differences in interaction styles between Scandinavia and the Far East, particularly Taiwan. The speaker, born and raised in Sweden, shared insights into her own experiences and observations, highlighting the distinct approaches to education and the working environment in these two regions. She now works as the project coordinator at the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei corporation.

One of the key differences the speaker noted was the level of formality and humility in interactions. She is young and humble; she gave the audience an energetic enthusiasm. The willingness to share personal details, such as her childhood experiences and traditional Swedish activities with friends, through pictures, and childhood photos we can imagine what her childhood had been like.

Another notable difference was Louise's fluency in multiple languages, her parents came from Guangzhou. She fluently speaks English, Swedish, Cantonese, and Mandarin. She explained that, unlike the Far East where language learning may be more focused on examinations and rote memorization, the Swedish approach emphasizes practical communication skills and cultural immersion. This, in turn, fosters a more relaxed and collaborative learning environment, which the speaker believed contributed to her linguistic versatility. Furthermore, she highlighted the working environment in Sweden as being more open and cooperative compared to the potentially more hierarchical and rigid structures common in some East Asian countries. She described her interactions with colleagues as being characterized by a sense of shared responsibility and a willingness to work together towards common goals, rather than a top-down, command-and-control approach. She understands differently from Swedish; East Asians do not directly say what they want, and go straight to the topic. She advises no matter where we work, keeping the director on the same page and understanding our expectations at the same time need to understand the company's expectations also, It is important before deciding to commit to a company. Throughout the meeting, her genuine enthusiasm and willingness to share her experiences created an engaging and insightful exchange. Louise shared her funny experiences in Taiwan about the Garbage truck culture. She shares how this special culture changed her life routine when she lived in Taipei. Noteworthy, as she not only shared her perspectives but also encouraged questions and discussions from the participants.

In conclusion, the cultural differences in interaction styles between Sweden/Scandinavia and Taiwan/the Far East, as highlighted by the young Swedish speaker, provide valuable insights into the diverse approaches to education, work, and interpersonal communication across these regions. By understanding and respecting these differences, individuals and organizations can cultivate more effective cross-cultural collaboration and foster greater mutual understanding.