Intercultural Competence - Moving Beyond 3B
Practicing Intercultural Competence (Moving Beyond 3B):
Engaging the Attributes and Abilities of Intercultural Competence
The primary goal of “Moving Beyond 3B – Practicing Intercultural Competence” is to engage participants in experiences of learning in which they practice the attributes and abilities of intercultural communication. Among these attributes are: tolerance for ambiguity, open-mindedness, flexibility, respect, adaptability, sensitivity, and creativity. Opportunities to practice these skills of intercultural competence will be offered through a menu of activities made available through TOLI. Each activity will focus on one or more aspects of cultural difference and will move participants deeper into culture specific learning.
Objectives
- Meet new situations and differences with mindfulness
- Respond to “cultural others” in non-evaluative ways
- Practice flexibility and shifting frames of reference
- Show respect and positive regard for other persons
- Adapt appropriately to cross-cultural situations
- Convey empathy verbally and non-verbally
- Practice creativity through divergent and systems thinking
The expectation is that each employee continue attending at least 3 hours per academic year of required Intercultural Competence, choosing from a variety of possible options that focus on dimensions of diversity:
- Culture specific learning
- Disabilities
- Gender / sexism
- Generational differences / ageism
- Nativism
- Religion
- Race / ethnicity
- Sexual orientation / homophobia or heterosexism
- White privilege
Participants are encouraged to select focus areas in which they have less experience or knowledge or one that is outside of their normal comfort zone, in order to foster deeper intercultural growth.
Possible activities include
- Group workshops facilitated by qualified teams
- Community cultural events and activities
- Films, videos watched by the individual
- Focused book study and discussion group