Barriers to Intercultural Communication and Efforts to Overcome Them Among Migrant Students in Yogyakarta

Abstract

This study discusses the barriers to intercultural communication and efforts to overcome them among migrant students in Yogyakarta. This research starts from the condition of Yogyakarta as a city of choice for pursuing higher education. The research uses a qualitative descriptive method, and the data is collected with in-depth interviews. The study results showed barriers to intercultural communication such as managing uncertainty, stereotyping, prejudice, racism, power, and language barriers. Efforts made were to postpone subjective judgments, understand and open themselves to cultural differences, empathize with communication partners, be interested in other individuals because they are unique individuals, not judge based on certain cultural or social groups, master verbal and nonverbal language, and withdrawal.