Teaching diversityTeaching diversityJos HilteJos Hilte

Mix-InMix-InConference on diversity in higher Conference on diversity in higher

educationeducation22–23 March 201022–23 March 2010

AmsterdamAmsterdam

Intercultural work Intercultural work or Dealing with diversityor Dealing with diversity

How do you train people for that within How do you train people for that within Higher EducationHigher Education

Short historyShort history

The eightiesThe eighties

Confrontation with patients, clients and studentsConfrontation with patients, clients and students

In education, especially Dutch as a Second LanguageIn education, especially Dutch as a Second LanguageEating and dancingEating and dancing

The ninetiesThe nineties

Hesitant beginnings of methodology developmentHesitant beginnings of methodology development

Urgency through placements in the field of professional practiceUrgency through placements in the field of professional practiceResultResult

Activities and training sessions in preparation for the practice placementsActivities and training sessions in preparation for the practice placements

After 2000After 2000

Strong progression in methodology developmentStrong progression in methodology development

Training in perspective Training in perspective developmentdevelopment

Film and novel analysis as case historiesFilm and novel analysis as case histories

Work forms/role playing about culture Work forms/role playing about culture differencesdifferences

Building ‘walls’ + reflectionBuilding ‘walls’ + reflection

Writing and presenting a cultural Writing and presenting a cultural autobiographyautobiography

The way the learning is The way the learning is organizedorganized

(leer-arrangement)(leer-arrangement)

Criteria cultural biographyCriteria cultural biography

Literature studyLiterature study

Anthropological knowledge/theoryAnthropological knowledge/theory

Perspective change as the goal and thePerspective change as the goal and theautobiography as the means to achieve thisautobiography as the means to achieve this

Criteria cultural autobiographyCriteria cultural autobiography

Describing own identity as (prospective) professionalDescribing own identity as (prospective) professional

Concrete examples of point of departure, values and personal Concrete examples of point of departure, values and personal qualitiesqualities

Examples of own cultural baggage in intercultural exchangesExamples of own cultural baggage in intercultural exchanges

Influence of life events and family context on own values and normsInfluence of life events and family context on own values and norms

Strength/weakness analysis of intercultural competenciesStrength/weakness analysis of intercultural competencies

Cultural autobiographyCultural autobiography

““I feel as if I am at a crossroads. I am I feel as if I am at a crossroads. I am 26 years old now.26 years old now.

Since I have been on this study Since I have been on this study programme I have learned a lot programme I have learned a lot about myself. I have better insight about myself. I have better insight into my qualities and myself as a into my qualities and myself as a person, what I want and don’t want”person, what I want and don’t want”

““I love working with people because their life I love working with people because their life stories fascinate me. These stories have stories fascinate me. These stories have made a person what he or she is and I try made a person what he or she is and I try to build a bond with each client and from to build a bond with each client and from this to see what is unique and to make a this to see what is unique and to make a link with the interests/stories of clients. Up link with the interests/stories of clients. Up to now this has gone well. I can say that I to now this has gone well. I can say that I have a natural talent for this. In my have a natural talent for this. In my previous year (in the third study year) previous year (in the third study year) during supervision I only became aware of during supervision I only became aware of this quality, making contact with the other this quality, making contact with the other by means of an intens sensitivity for what by means of an intens sensitivity for what is going on around me”. is going on around me”.

In fact I find myself in a sort of liminial In fact I find myself in a sort of liminial phase, comparable to someone who has phase, comparable to someone who has migrated to a new country and has to find migrated to a new country and has to find his or her way. his or her way.

The anthropological term liminality offers a The anthropological term liminality offers a concept that provides insight into the concept that provides insight into the transition from one phase to another. transition from one phase to another.

The liminial phase is the phase in which The liminial phase is the phase in which you have left the old behind you but have you have left the old behind you but have not yet embraced the new not yet embraced the new .”.”