Workshop Details

• Date and Time: Friday, April 7, 2017, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Location: International Cultural Center, #105
• Light breakfast plus lunch will be provided
• Workshop Schedule

Registration

Register today! Space is limited to 40 participants.

• Deadline to register: March 27

Intercultural Learning Workshop Registration

The Need to Enhance Intercultural Learning

How much do study abroad students truly learn about their host culture? Do they have skills necessary to interact with and communicate across language barriers (even in English)? Do your students have an opportunity to reflect on their own culture and return from their study abroad experience with new intercultural skills and agility?

Recent education abroad research demonstrates the significance of 'cultural mentoring' to help students develop these important skills. This is especially important as students study and live in increasingly diverse environments and engage in the global workplace after graduation.

Research also shows that simply traveling to another country does not cause students to develop intercultural competence. Intentionality in designing intercultural experiences abroad is essential.

As a faculty leader, how can your program take advantage of opportunities to guide students in their intercultural awareness development? What can you – and your study abroad colleagues – do before students depart, while they are abroad, or after they return to help them develop such intercultural skills as curiosity, empathy, and self-awareness? How can you apply these new methods to your home campus classroom?

Workshop Learning Objectives

This workshop is designed to be a hands-on, active learning environment in which all participants are actively engaged. By the conclusion of the workshop, you will:

• Gain a foundation in intercultural concepts and theories to help you and your students understand cultural similarities and differences;
• Examine your own cultural background and its relevance and impact on thought, behavior and experience;
• Identify common obstacles that hinder intercultural learning in study abroad programs;
• Recognize and dispel common myths about intercultural learning abroad;
• Begin to identify ways to incorporate intercultural learning into your classes and work with students;
• Recognize critical elements of cultural adjustment of students as well as program leaders.

About the Workshop Presenter

Steven T. Duke is President of the Institute for Cross-Cultural Teaching and Learning, and Assistant Vice President for Global Strategy and International Initiatives at the University of Nebraska. With a Ph.D. in history from Indiana University, Steve has taught Russian, European and world history courses at Wake Forest University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Brigham Young University. He has also taught cross-cultural engagement courses and conducts research on intercultural learning and intercultural competence development. He created and spearheaded the WISE Conference from 2008 to 2015, turning it into the premier conference on intercultural learning in education abroad and an important training environment for faculty who lead education abroad programs. He is a frequent presenter at regional, national and international conferences on international education and at workshops for faculty and international education professionals. His publications include Preparing to Study Abroad: Learning to Cross Cultures (Stylus, 2014).

Questions?

Contact Whitney Longnecker, Faculty-Led Program Coordinator.

Do you have the skills necessary to help your students connect across cultural differences? 

Understanding Study Abroad at TTU

Leading Students Abroad