Intercultural Training

In the context of growing globalization, intercultural competence has become one of the most important soft skills of the 21st century, and university life offers plenty of opportunities for intercultural interaction: working in an international student team, studying abroad, or doing an internship in an international company. The aim of this training is to prepare students for understanding and dealing with cultural diversity in higher education and beyond, so they understand foreign behaviour better and can communicate both effectively and appropriately in intercultural interactions.

The training is particularly suitable for international students, who want to learn from their intercultural experience in Germany as well as home students planning to go abroad for studying or to apply for an internship. However, all other participants are also welcome to attend.

Number of participants: 16-20

Syllabus

  • Culture and cultural identity
  • Models of cultural differences
  • Stereotyping and othering
  • Cross-cultural communication
  • Critical incidents (intercultural misunderstandings)
  • Application of effective communication stratagies to real-life intercultural situations

Intended learning outcomes

On successfully completing the training you will be able to

  • demonstrate a deeper understanding of culture
  • explain how cultural frameworks influence ways of thinking and doing
  • critically assess scholarly models for describing cultural differences
  • reflect about your own beliefs and value system
  • adapt your behaviour to communicate effectively in intercultural encounters
  • analyse intercultural misunderstandings
  • develop strategies for dealing with intercultural misunderstandings 
  • reflect about an intercultural experience of your own and evaluate it critically

Language

The training is offered in English. This is a very communicative course where participants do most of the talking. While you do not have to speak perfect English to take this course, you will feel most comfortable with a good B2 level.

Teaching methods

To optimize the acquisition of intercultural competencies, the course consists, in addition to a small proportion of lectures, mainly of interactive workshops and involves  group discussions, teamwork activities, simulations, and case studies. The analysis of critical incidents and role play scenarios offer opportunities to apply and practice new skills.

Assessment

  • Requires active participation on all four days
  • Reflective diary: describe, interpret and evaluate an intercultural experience of your own drawing on scholarly theory and empirical findings (2500 words)
  • For home students: This course is part of the module Studium Generale. Please refer to your Studienordnung to find out which courses you may take.
  • For international students: 2.5 ECTS upon passing the final assessment