Interpersonal Communication Between Local Students and West Asian Students At Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Komunikasi Interpersonal Pelajar Tempatan dengan Pelajar Asia Barat di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)

Abstract

This study is to determine the level of interpersonal communication environment, the level of comfort of interpersonal communication and perception between local and West Asian students at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Some 40 students living at Ibu Zain International Student House (IZISH UKM) were chosen for the study. They were given a questionnaire which was verified by experts. Data analysis showed that the positive level of comfort of interpersonal communication cross-cultural between local and West Asian students while the level of interpersonal communication environment was moderate. The perception’s level of the relationship between UKM students cross-cultural interpersonal communication and West Asian’s students was positive. The result from the study showed that, the factor affecting cross-cultural interpersonal communication of local students and West Asian students were; a) language differences, b) lack of activity together, c) does not visit each other, d) the isolation between students’ block, e) the negative perception on the attitude of Western Asian’s student. Several suggestions have been made as an initiative that could reduce the gap of cross-cultural interpersonal communication relationship between local and West Asian students.