Overview
Presenter: Alex Cleberg, Intercultural Trainer at International Student and Scholar Services
When attempting to navigate new systems at the University of Minnesota, international students can be confused by the U.S. American approach to conversations, instructions, and explanations. Likewise, staff and faculty often wish they understood the cultural expectations and communication styles of international students, as well as had stronger skills in listening to accented English. This interactive workshop will be your opportunity to share, learn, and practice actionable approaches to communicating and connecting with international students, staff, and faculty (including those who are working in their second, or even third or fourth, language).
This workshop is part of The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Intercultural Workshop series for UMN staff and faculty. The series combines intercultural competency and skills development workshops and "Culture In-Depth" sessions discussing the unique practices, customs, and values of some of the largest international student populations on our campus. Each session helps UMN staff members gain greater cultural self-awareness, an understanding of the contributions of international students, and communication skills to improve interactions and relationships with international students, staff, and faculty.
To learn more about ISSS's training options to help UMN colleges, departments and staff, go to the ISSS Training for Staff and Departments webpage.
For questions about the Intercultural Workshop Series, please contact Alex Cleberg at [email protected].
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
- Appreciate why the English language is difficult to learn
- Develop tactics on communicating effectively with English language learners
- Deepen the impact of your communications by understanding the cultural expectations of international students
Topics
- Intercultural communication
- Communication styles
- Cultural identity
- International students
- Multilingual speakers
Who should attend
UMN staff and faculty