1 Cross-Cultural Training Courses Nicole Späth, Cultural Scientist M.A. and Cross-Cultural Trainer...

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Cross-Cultural Training Courses

Nicole Späth, Cultural Scientist M.A.

and Cross-Cultural Trainer

© Nicole Späth, Cultural Scientist M.A. and Cross-Cultural Trainer, Hamburg 2011

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Introduction into Culture, Cross-CulturalCommunication and Cultural Standards


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“We ... say of some people that they are transparent to us. It is,however, important as regards this observation that one humanbeing can be complete enigma to another. We learn this whenwe come into a strange country with entirely strange traditions;and, what is more, even given a mastery of the country‘s language. We do not understand the people.“

(Wittgenstein, in: Geertz, 1973)


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What is Culture?


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There are many different definitions of Culture. In the Cross-Cultural Communication anthropological definitions are often used:

Cultures are webs of significance, spun by human beings, with a lot of signs (=acts) – thick description is anthropological practice of explaining with as much detail as possible the reason behind human actions. (cp. Geertz 1973)

Culture is a common (invisible) system of values and meanings, that becomes visible by people‘s behaviours and actions as well as by specific artefacts. (cp. Maletzke, 1999)

Culture is a universal, typical system of orientitation of a society,organisation or a group. (cp.Thomas, 1996)

Culture is the entirety of human beings‘ lifes – how they live together. (cp. UNESCO, 1996)


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Hofstede´s “Iceberg-Model“: Culture as an Iceberg

visible artefacts and behaviour (e.g. greeting)

invisible values, rules and behavioural norms (e.g. norms of greeting) = “cultural sense”


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Hofstede´s “Iceberg-Model“:Culture as an Iceberg

visible artefacts and behaviour: clothing, architecture, greeting...)

invisible values, rules and behavioural norms : clothing order, building rules, etiquette...= “cultural sense”

clothes

architecture greeting


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Cultures are signified by Cultural Standards which are important for people‘s orientations.

These specific cultural associations and values are so called “Cultural Dimensions“ (Geert Hofstede), “Cultural Orientation“ (Karl-Heinz Flechsig) or specific “Cultural Standards“ (Alexander Thomas). Cultural Standards help to orientate oneself in the huge system of culture – like signs on a trail.

Cultural Standards are responsible for what members of a culture perceive, how they think, and how they act.


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Cultural Standards are responsible for what members of a culture perceive, how they think, and how they act.

• Experience of time and interpersonal space

• Communication styles: Verbal Communication (e.g. open + direct or polite + indirect); nonverbal communication (gestures, facial expressions, more or less physical contact aso.)

• Hierarchical order (incl. meaning of authority)

• Social reference systems (individualistic or collectivistic)


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In Cross-Cultural Communication foreign phenomena are often interpreted by own Cultural Standards.

Cross-Cultural Communication means that people with different Cultural Standards get together and interact. For everybody his own standards are quite obvious and universal – everybody has his own cultural perspective.

Problem of Ethnocentrism: Foreign phenomena are interpreted by our Cultural Standards.


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Crossing Cultures can be difficult!


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Cross-Cultural Training shall help you to get along with people from different Cultures and different Cultural Standards.

In the training you shall:

- improve your self-perception- expand your perception of foreign cultural standards - try, not to interpret too early- acquire the ability to solve cross-cultural

misunderstandings or conflicts

Cultural relativism:No culture is better or worse, only different!


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Exercises for Cross-Cultural Trainings

Improvement of self-perception:

- View from a window - Cultural questionnaire- Questionnaire of interpersonal distance

Expansion of perception of others and trying not to interpret too early:

- Mars anthropology

Training of cross-cultural working situations:

- role plays and simulations (e.g. Ecotonos, East-West, The Owl, MultiKulti)

Ability to solve cross-cultural misunderstandings or conflicts:

- Critical Incidents and Cultural Assimilator


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MultiKultiTrados

WE - Group oriented

TIME is not precisely measured

INDIRECT COMMUNICATION


Obedience to AUTHORITY

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MultiKultiIndivos

I – self-reliant

TIME is precisely measured –

must be productively used

DIRECT COMMUNICATION

Individual rights are very important –

mild suspicion of AUTHORITY


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MultiKultiFlexos

Obedience to RULES/LAWS

INDIRECT COMMUNICATION

TIME should be productively used,

but do not like stress

I – self-reliant

HARMONY – do not like conflicts, try to solve them


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CC Training Courses for international students – 1st day

12.30 – 12.40 p.m. : Welcoming and presentation of the program

12.40 – 1.10 p.m. : Introduction to eachother

1.10 – 2.30 p.m. : Introduction into Culture, Cross-Cultural Communication and Cultural Standards

2.30 – 2.40 p.m. : Questionnaire „Interpersonal Distance“

2.40 – 3.00 p.m. : coffee break

3.00 – 3.10 p.m. : Presentation of questionnaire results „Interpersonal Distance“

3.10 – 4.40 p.m. : „Marsanthropology“ – exercise on cultural change of perspectives

4.40 – 5.00 p.m. : coffee break

5.00 – 5.30 p.m. : Communication exercises

5.30 – 6.00 p.m. : Geert Hofstede‘s Cultural Dimensionshttp://www.geert-hofstede.com/

6.00 – 6.30 p.m. : German images

6.30 – 7.00 p.m. : Conclusions


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9.15 – 9.30 a.m. : Welcoming

9.30 – 10.00 a.m. : Theories of multiculturalism

10.00 – 10.45 a.m. : “Wau Wau“ – team game

10.45 – 11.00 a.m. : coffee break

11.00 – 12.00 a.m. : Introduction into multicultural team building

12.00 – 1.00 p.m. : lunch break

1.00 – 1.15 p.m. : Introduction into the simulation “MultiKulti“

1.15 – 6.30 p.m. : Simulation of a cross-cultural project work in a team

6.30 – 7.00 p.m. : Conclusions


CC Training Courses for international students – 2nd day

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09.15 – 09.30 a.m. : Welcoming

09.30 – 10.00 a.m. : Communication exercises

10.00 – 10.15 a.m. : coffee break

10.15 – 11.30 a.m. : Introduction into conflict theories and solution strategies

11.30 – 12.00 a.m. : Film cross-cultural mediation

12.00 – 1.00 p.m. : lunch break

1.00 – 1.30 p.m. : Introduction into critical incidents and cultural assimilator

1.30 – 5.00 p.m. : Critical Incidents and Cultural Assimilator – exercises with individual critical incidents

5.00 – 5.30 p.m. : Conclusions and evaluation

5.30 – 6.00 p.m. : Discussions for homeworks


CC Training Courses for international students – 3rd day

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Literature and link tipsFlechsig, K.-H.: Beiträge zum Interkulturellen Training, Institut für Interkulturelle

Didaktik e.V., überarb. Aufl. 2005.Geertz, C.: The Interpretation of Cultures, New York 1973.Geertz, C.: Dichte Beschreibung, Beiträge zum Verstehen kultureller Systeme, 6.

Aufl. 1999.Heringer, J.: Interkulturelle Kommunikation, Grundlagen und Konzepte,

Tübingen/Basel 2004.Kumbier, D./Schulz von Thun, F. (Hg.): Interkulturelle Kommunikation:

Methoden, Modelle, Beispiele, Hamburg 2006.Losche, H.: Interkulturelle Kommunikation, Sammlung praktischer Spiele und

Übungen, 1. Aufl., 1995.Maletzke, G.: Interkulturelle Kommunikation, Zur Interaktion zwischen Menschen

verschiedener Kulturen, Opladen 1996.Thomas, A., Kammhuber, S. & Schroll-Machl, S. (Hg.):

Handbuch Interkulturelle Kommunikation und Kooperation, Band 2: Länder, Kulturen und interkulturelle Berufstätigkeit, Göttingen 2003.

Thomas, A. & Yoosefi, T. (Hg.): Beruflich in Russland, Trainingsprogramme für Manager, Fach- und Führungskräfte (Handlungskompetenz im Ausland), Göttingen 2003.

Several other authors on the topic „Beruflich in...“

http://www.geert-hofstede.comhttp://wwwuser.gwdg.de/~kflechs/iikdiaps3-98.htmhttp://www.mumis-projekt.de/ci/© Nicole Späth, Kulturwissenschaftlerin M.A. und interkulturelle Trainerin, Hamburg 2010

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Thank you !


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