Bridging Ethnic Communication Gaps: 1/2 day cultural workshop
In the modern world, people move from one country to another, from one language environment to another and from one culture to another. It is assumed that when people enter a new country, they will make an effort to assimilate by learning and accepting the local culture and language.
Unfortunately, moving to another country is a lot harder than what people who have never done it might consider. Immigration is full of challenges and frustrations for newcomers and locals alike.
In a multicultural world with a large migrant population, we are facing challenges with diversity. Migrants do not assimilate as well as they could do. They tend to keep to their own community, socialize within their ethnic group at work, do business within their trusted cultural circle and keep themselves at various levels of isolation from “the locals”.
The locals, on the other hand, do exactly the same.
This divide between “locals” and “migrants” is highly undesirable for society and the government system. Fortunately, it can be addressed by creating an understanding between the two and recognizing the great advantages that cultural fusion brings with it.
What’s in the workshop?
Number of participants in this workshop: unlimited.
Workshop running time: 4 hours, with two 15-minute breaks.
Workshop Contents:
- Introduction
- Understanding Culture
- Cultural Awareness Self-Assessment
- The Culture Shock: Do German Cows Moo?
- Culture and Needs
- Nonverbal Communication
- Who Needs a Second Language?
- Resources
- Summary
Benefits to the participants
- Participants understand the different dimensions of culture
- Participants become familiar with the cultural gap – values and needs
- Participants learn about cultural barriers, including religion and family structure
- Participants see the effects of the language barrier
- Participants find out the facts about migration
- Participants understand multiculturalism
- Participants understand the personal effects of migration
- Participants see life in the country as a cultural context
- Participants “travel” around the world and learn about different customs
- Participants learn great ways for making immigration easier for newcomers and locals alike and for creating a stronger society for everyone
Benefits to the community
- Tolerant, accepting attitude towards other cultures, traditions and languages
- Promotion of flexibility and excellence through strengthening of organic language studies
- Building happy communities within an accepting environment
- Strong, positive communication across ethnic groups
- More independent and self-sufficient families and youth
- More productive workforce, fusing ideas from different places into optimal solutions locally
- More productive workforce, where everyone feels that they belong and works towards the general interest
- Making the country an attractive place for highly educated, highly skilled and highly motivated migrants
Who is this presentation suitable for?
- Multicultural organizations
- Multinational companies
- Ethnic communities and organizations
- Cultural events and festivals – available to the public or sold for an additional price
- Immigration agents, lawyers and consultants
- Education departments
- Schools
- Universities
- Language schools
- Expatriate (expat) associations
