Interacting beyond borders? – How to… intercultural communication

Who is the stranger? You or me?

How we perceive the world and the people around us is highly influenced by our cultural background, educational development and socialization. Today, due to digitalization and globalization, we experience numerous encounters with people from diverse cultures, where we are confronted with different languages, communication styles, codes and ascriptions of meanings. Stereotypes, prejudices and racial discrimination are components within these multilayered communicative processes and influence our interpersonal behavior.

How can we deal with ‘the others’ different from us? How can we develop competences and strategies to enable us to interact with an open-minded attitude in intercultural contexts? Beside theoretical input, the training focuses on gaining practical skills through role game simulations, mutual exchange of experience and proactive exercises to evolve flexibility and adaptability in intercultural communication settings.

Course objectives:

• Enhance intercultural sensitivity through analyzing and resolving problems from the perspective of cultural differences and different communication styles.
• Develop awareness of your own cultural identities and an appreciation for others.
• Amplify consciousness of stereotypical and prejudicial processes and biases.
• Sensitization for racist mechanisms and discriminating incidents.

Course contents:

LECTURE 1: CULTURE & COMMUNICATION

• Definition and clarification of the concept of culture & communication
• Categories of cultural values and norms as essential determinants for intercultural communication
• Characteristics of intercultural encounters
• Variations in cross-cultural communication styles
• Developing strategies for culture shocks and intercultural interactions

LECTURE 2: STEREOTYPES & PREJUDICES

• Characteristics and categories of stereotypes & prejudices
• Awareness and impact of biases
• Effects of stigmatization and discrimination due to stereotypes and prejudices
• Dealing with prejudices and in intercultural contexts

LECTURE 3: RACISM

• Context and terminology of race and racism
• Societal structures and forms of racism
• Discussion, analysis and reflection on everyday racism
• Anti-racism strategies in daily live

The course at a glance:

• Date: 6th, 20th and 27rh May 2021

• Content/tasks: 3 units each 120 minutes long

• Participation in only one event is also possible!

• Learning material: Will be provided during the course/ Online materials

• Total processing time: 3 times 2 hours

• Duration of course: 3 weeks

• Online live lessons: 120 minutes long each

• Certificate/ ECTS: Certificate of Attendance

• Language: English

• Number of Places: 12 (first come, first served)