Maria Tamarina from Creative English Department, BINUS

On August 13, 2025, the Language Center at BINUS @Senayan proudly hosted another series of the 2025 EPSO Speaker Talks, an annual platform designed to inspire students through thought-provoking discussions. This year’s theme, “Culture Through Experience,” invited participants to reflect on how cultural awareness shapes communication in today’s interconnected world.

The session was opened by Maria, who delivered an insightful talk on Intercultural Communicative Competence. She emphasized that language is never neutral, as cultural norms, values, and expectations deeply influence it.

Maria highlighted how:

  • Everyday actions, often taken for granted, can unintentionally offend others when viewed through a different cultural lens.
  • Cultural awareness is essential for effective communication, especially in diverse environments like BINUS @Senayan.
  • Developing intercultural competence means not only learning a language but also understanding the cultural contexts in which it is used.