• An international marriage needs communication to survive.marriage image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
  
  An international couple faces a number of challenges--more than people of the same nationality, some might say. Communication is essential in any marriage, but cultural and traditional factors could pose some major problems for a couple from different nationalities. To be part of a successful marriage, you must take a few communication factors into consideration.
  
  

Learn the Culture

• Understanding your international spouse's culture will allow you to communicate effectively, full of compassion and open-mindedness. You will see where she comes from, understanding why she reacts a certain way to things. This can be done by observing your spouse in his natural environment, reading books about the culture and asking questions. Taking cultural interest will help open the gates of communication, because your spouse will appreciate your initiative and you will begin to understand why your spouse is the way she is.
  
  

Observe Spouse's Family

• Once you learn a bit more about your spouse's culture, it's time to look at the family. Observe how the mother and father--and other family members--interact with each other. Keep your eyes open for major differences between your upbringing and your spouse's by watching how the family reacts to certain things, what offends them and what offends you but not them. Something that is a big deal to you might not be to them, so keep this in mind so you can be patient with these differences.
  
  

Speak Your Feelings

• Even couples of the same nationality have trouble understanding a spouse's feelings without the use of words, so you can imagine how difficult it is for an international couple to gauge feelings without words. It is essential that you tell your spouse how you feel, whether sad, happy, angry or frustrated, because cultural differences might keep him or her from knowing how you feel without being told. Over time, you will begin to see patterns and know when your spouse is upset or angry, but the use of words is the best way to know precisely how your spouse is feeling.
  
  

Listen

• According to Eboni J. Baugh and Deborah Humphries, listening is the most important part of communication--both in marriage and otherwise--and it helps you better understand your spouse. Good listeners can gauge emotion, predict people's needs and respond in appropriate ways. Listening involves more than hearing what your spouse is saying. It requires positive body language like eye contact, nodding with affirmation and an open posture; reading facial expressions; and asking questions. A spouse slow to speak and quick to listen will face far fewer problems than someone who practices the opposite.