Description
Learn in a classroom environment with your peers, virtually, with an instructor online.
Course Length: 2 Days
Target Audience: General
Learning Objectives:
This interactive workshop will allow participants to become comfortable communicating with people from diverse cultural backgrounds by learning how to: identify elements of culture which affect intercultural interaction, recognize communication styles which contrast with our own, interpret messages sent in contrasting communication styles, recognize non-verbal cultural differences, identify and avoid typical intercultural misunderstandings and conflicts, and practice communication skills that are both effective and respectful.
Course Outline:
- Culture and its impact on workplace communication
- Definitions of culture
- The impact of culture
- Cultural dimensions and their impact on communication
- Individualism – collectivism
- Hierarchical – egalitarian
- Task orientation – people orientation
- Competition – collaboration
- Various other factors affecting communication
- Treatment of emotions
- Level of self-disclosure
- Nature of topics discussed
- Different communication styles
- Linear and circular
- Direct and indirect
- Restrained and expressive
- The concept of time
- The concept of space
- Nonverbal communication
- Silence
- Turn-taking
- Vocal characteristics
- Posture and body language
- Gestures
- Physical contact
- Facial expression
- Eye contact
- Smiling
- Nonverbal communication
- Interpersonal perception
- Suspending judgment
- Strategies to effectively and respectfully communicate “interculturally”
- Attentive listening
- Patience
- Identity confirmation
- Perception checking/paraphrasing
- Mindfulness
- Creation of new categories
- Openness to new information
- Inclusive language
- Personal commitment and action plan
Supplement Material
A student manual is available for the learner to follow during the instructor’s presentation.
Benefits to the participants
Throughout the activities, the learners will acquire the knowledge to become comfortable communicating with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Course Evaluation
A course evaluation will be completed by the learners once the course is finished.
Note: The course outline may be subject to change.
