DEVELOPING THE "CULTURAL SELF" IN A MULTICULTURAL WORLD
AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WORKSHOP IN COMMUNICATION AND NEGOTIATION
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This 15-hour experiential learning workshop offers participants the opportunity to gain insight into the "cultural self" with respect for personal identity in a world of diversity. Its objective is to help participants broaden their perspective on other cultures and to practice intercultural mediation. This workshop allows participants to create their individual, cultural self and to use their creative potential to enhance their negotiation skills and engage more constructively in intercultural communication. This workshop covers the following topics:
· defining the components of the "cultural self;"
· understanding the role of the individual in a global society;
· discussing cultural values and stereotypes shaping people's nationally specific patterns of communicative behavior;
· analyzing the available experience of cross-cultural miscommunication and identifying the "danger zones" that deserve priority attention in negotiations;
· examining the phenomenon of national character and features of national psychology, determining cultural differences in academic, business, and social encounters;
· discussing diversity in a broad meaning, including individual, national, and international levels;
· developing intercultural negotiation techniques;
· gaining an understanding of the self and the biases we each possess which can lead to conflict on a larger scale.
Each session utilizes interactive teaching online and promotes self-directed learning. The teaching-learning process in this workshop is based on active, informed involvement of the learner in the learning process. Therefore, the wide range of instructional delivery techniques used throughout the workshop will include but are not restricted to: presentations; discussions; media; readings; case studies; and storytelling. Interaction with other participants is essential. The website for the course and e-mail communication between the students and the instructors will facilitate further discussion of issues related to the class. World Wide Web applications and recommended websites provide complementary course materials and serve as a virtual link outside the physical classroom.
RATIONALE:
This 15-hour workshop offers an understanding of cultural self and appreciation of diversity within domestic and international contexts. If your organization works closely with people from other countries, your employees can benefit from this workshop. The workshop is intended to serve as an opportunity for learners to gain new insights and exposure to intercultural communication. This learning occurs in an interdisciplinary format and explores personal values and attitudes relative to living in a global community.
OBJECTIVES:
The overall goals of this workshop aim to effect the cognitive, affective and behavioral characteristics of participants and, subsequently, to (a) help participants communicate more effectively; (b) aid them in dealing with the inevitable stresses that accompany an intercultural encounter; (c) enable participants to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships with those whose backgrounds are different from their own; (d) allow them to accomplish the various tasks they originally set out to do in a new context or setting; and e) be more culturally inclusive and less exclusive.
AUDIENCE:
This workshop is tailor-made for professionals in specifically defined audiences, i.e., businesspersons, educators, communications specialists and federal employees.
AUDIENCE:
This workshop is tailor-made for international business students, upper level undergraduates with permission of instructors, and graduate level students.
AUDIENCE:
This workshop is tailor-made for non-profit organization personnel.
FACULTY
Larissa Chuprina holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with specialization in Educational Psychology and concentrations in Adult Education, a Master's Degree in Foreign Language Education from Kharkiv State University, and Diploma in International Business from Kharkiv University of Economics in Ukraine. She has rich international experience and expertise in teaching foreign languages and teaching/learning skills, and consulting on intercultural communication issues in the USA and overseas. She was born in Germany, raised in Ukraine, and traveled extensively in Europe participating in educational tourism. In
Ukraine, she owned and managed a Foreign Language Institute, as well as taught Business English and consulted organizations and individuals on cross-cultural issues. In the USA, she was teaching a graduate level course "International Communication and Language for a Global Society" and conducted workshops for managers through the Professional Development Department of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. She brings her multicultural and interdisciplinary background into the teaching process during training and cultural orientations to organizations and individuals. Larissa Chuprina is a Founding Faculty member at OLT OnLine Training, Inc.
Colette Mazzucelli, MALD, PhD, DDG, has 20 years experience in global education. She is a member of the "Scientific Council" of the Rotary Center for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution and a Senior Lecturer at Sciences Po Paris. At OLT College, Mazzucelli is a member of the Founding Faculty responsible to develop offerings in Global Awareness: Confronting 21st Century Challenges, Conflict Prevention: Concepts and Practice in Comparative Perspective, HIV/AIDS Preventive Education, and Understanding Conflict and Cooperation in World Affairs. Most recently, she was Program Development Associate, Center for Educational Outreach and Innovation, Teachers College (TC), Columbia University. Mazzucelli was cited as International Educator of the Year 2003 in recognition of her pioneering work in the development of approaches to multimedia pedagogy for active learning. She enjoys developing blended pedagogical offerings that allow for maximum personal interaction among students in a learning community. A volume that profiles her work in this area, edited with Roger Boston, Preventive Education for Human Security in the Balkans, is forthcoming in 2005 with Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. A participant in the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program for Future American Leaders, Mazzucelli assisted with the ratification of the Treaty on European Union ("Maastricht") in the Federal Republic of Germany, 1992-93. She is the author of France and Germany at Maastricht Politics and Negotiations to Create the European Union.
WORKSHOP REQUIREMENTS:
1. To read all assigned readings (selected materials)
2. To engage actively in discussion on the topic(s)/issue(s) on-line
3. To complete a form "Lessons Learned" at the end of each session to reflect on the issues and activities (that can be used for the reaction paper at the end of the course)
4. Learning Activity # 1. To write a two-page paper, a cultural portrait of self.
5. Learning Activity # 2. To prepare a one-page paper about Cultural Identity based on the interview with a person from a country different from one's own.
6. Learning Activity # 3. To provide a two-page summary of an article or case study of choice (chosen on your own or recommended in the References) on a topic of a personal interest, specifically related to the issues relevant to the workshop.
ASSESSMENT
A grade will be granted based upon preparation and participation in the activities as well as written assignments. This course will not emphasize "right and wrong" answer; rather its focus is on developing sensitive approaches to cross-cultural communication and analytical skills.
Homework - 30%
Participation in class discussion, presentations - 40%
Written assignments - 30%
N.B. The course can be completed at your own pace.
SELECTED CHAPTERS WILL BE ASSIGNED FROM THE FOLLOWING TEXTS
Bentz, V. & J. Shapiro. (1998) Mindful Inquiry in Social Research. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Lewicki, R. J., D.M. Saunders & J.W. Minton. (2001) Essentials of
Negotiation. Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Seelye, N. & J. Wasilewski. (1996) Developing Self-Identity in a World of Diversity. Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Ting-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating across cultures. New York: The Guilford Press.
WORKSHOP MODULES
1. Orientation; Expectations Requirements for the course Virtual Bios and Images of Participants
Workshop Introduction. Rationale: Why Is It Important and For Whom
Larissa and Colette (2.5 hours)
Readings: Bentz & Shapiro, Chapter 1; Ting-Toomey: pp.3-8; Singer: Ch.2;
Assignment #1
2. Self-Identity and Globalization
Understanding of Cultural Self and Reasons for Conflicts
Larissa and Colette: Presentation (2.5 hours)
Readings: Bentz & Shapiro: Chapters 2-3; Waltz, Chapters 2, 4, 6
Assignment # 2
3. Effective Cross-Cultural Communication in Management and in Global Leadership;
Colette (2.5 hours)
Readings: Lewicki et al., Chapter 8; Assignment # 3
4. Sharing experience, Global day, simulations, constructing our cross-cultural self
Larissa and Colette Interactive workshop
Assignment: Act. #4
5. Intercultural Negotiation Techniques
Colette (2.5 hours)
Readings: Chaney 9-12; Lewicki et al., Chapters 1-4, 6, & 9
6. What we learned? Now what?
Act. #5
Larissa and Colette (2.5 hours)