ISSS is excited to offer intercultural communication workshops for faculty, staff and students.

Intercultural Communication Three-Part Series 

• Part 1: Cultural Self-Awareness: Monday, March 4 – 9:30 - 11am 
• Part 2: Understanding Others: Monday, March 18 – 9:30 - 11am 
• Part 3: Developing Intercultural Competencies: Monday, March 25 – 9:30 – 11am 

Part 1: Cultural Self-Awareness (90 mins) 

Intended audience: Faculty and Staff 

Description: This workshop is the first in a series designed to help participants develop critical intercultural skills. Before we can work successfully across cultures, we must first understand ourselves as cultural beings. Participants will explore their own intersecting identities, values, privileges and perspectives. They will then be able to apply their cultural self-awareness to more effectively and appropriately navigate intercultural interactions. Subsequent courses will focus on understanding others, developing intercultural competencies and supporting non-native English speakers.

To register, log into Brainier through Self Service, select "Learning Management" and then select "Brainier." Search for the “Intercultural Communication Workshop Series.” Then click "start" under Step 1: Intercultural Communication Skills, Part 1: Cultural Self-Awareness. Note: the series must be completed sequentially.

Part 2: Understanding Others (90 mins) 

Intended audience: Faculty and Staff 

Description: This workshop builds on the Part 1: Cultural Self-Awareness workshop. While taking Part 1 is not a perquisite, it is recommended. Part 2 will introduce participants to the foundations of intercultural communication with a focus on understanding cultural differences. Participants will understand cultural value differences, what causes misunderstandings across cultures and how to more effectively and appropriately communicate across cultures. 

To register, log into Brainier through Self Service, select "Learning Management" and then select "Brainier." Search for the “Intercultural Communication Workshop Series.” Note: part 1 must be completed before registration for part 2 is possible.

Part 3: Developing Intercultural Competencies (90 mins) 

Intended audience: Faculty and Staff 

Description: This workshop builds on foundations learned in parts 1 and 2. Participants will get an understanding of the competencies required for effective and appropriate intercultural communication and how to develop their own skills.

To register, log into Brainier through Self Service, select "Learning Management" and then select "Brainier." Search for the “Intercultural Communication Workshop Series.” Note: Participants must complete parts 1 and 2 before they can register for part 3.

Personal Leadership: Making a World of Difference (Two-Part Series) 

Personal Leadership Part 1 (90 minutes) 

Intended audience: faculty and staff 

Description This course will help participants develop their personal leadership skills, be better able to handle difficult situations in their work and personal lives, and more effectively navigate across cultures and other differences. Participants will have an opportunity to write their own personal vision statement and learn how to live in alignment with it. Participants will also receive a worksheet they can use to discern how to handle life’s various challenges and an understanding of how to apply personal leadership skills to working with people who are different from them. 

To register, log into Brainier through Self Service, select "Learning Management" and then select "Brainier." Search for the “Personal Leadership Series.” Then click "start" under Step 1, Personal Leadership: Making a World of Difference Part 1. Note: part 2 is optional for those who complete part 1.

Personal Leadership Part 2 (90 minutes) 

Intended audience: faculty and staff 

Description: This Personal Leadership Part 2 workshop dives deeper into the principles and activities of part 1; therefore, completion of part 1 is a prerequisite. In this workshop, participants will review the vision statement they wrote in the first session and reflect on the following questions: has your vision statement evolved, have you been able to call upon it to help you discern right action, what have you done when you have found yourself living out of alignment with your vision of your best self? Participants will also go deeper into the Critical Moment Dialogue by practicing scenarios in breakout rooms. 

To register, log into Brainier through Self Service, select "Learning Management" and then select "Brainier." Search for the “Personal Leadership Series.” Note: participants may register for part 2 upon successful completion of part 1.

Intercultural Communication Skills for Students (90 mins) 

Intended audience: Students from all schools regardless of immigration status 

Description: This workshop introduces participants to the foundations of intercultural communication (key terms, cultural norms and values, cultural self-awareness, etc.), tips for understanding others, ways of effectively communicating across cultures and opportunities to develop one’s intercultural competencies. Details and registration will be available in the Hub. 

Why Do We Talk about Race So Much in the US? (75 minutes) 

Intended audience: International Students and scholars 

Description: Does it seem like there is a lot of discussion about race in the US? Do you wonder why it is often a tense subject with a great deal of misunderstanding and conflict? Join this workshop to learn more about the history of race in the US as well as issues that stem from systemic racism. Plus, we'll discuss ways we can be part of the solution. Details and registration will be available in the Hub.