MODULE 02
Intercultural Competencies and Communication
INTEGRA lights the way for change, giving young people
the tools they need to succeed and empowering their mentors.
LET’S START THIS ADVENTURE OF GROWTH AND
EMPOWERMENT, TOGETHER!
· Develop awareness and sensitivity towards different cultures and their impact on communication.
· Enhance intercultural communication skills to effectively interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
· Understand the importance of cultural diversity in fostering migrant integration and collaboration.
· Learn strategies for resolving conflicts and overcoming cultural barriers.
Learning goals:
INTRODUCTION
Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey is a transformative experience, particularly for migrants seeking to establish their own businesses. In this dynamic and diverse landscape, success not only hinges on business acumen but also on the ability to navigate the intricacies of intercultural interactions, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts constructively. As trainers working with aspiring migrant entrepreneurs, we recognize the pivotal role that intercultural competence plays in fostering meaningful connections and propelling businesses forward. This module is crafted to empower trainers with the essential skills to guide and support migrants on their entrepreneurial ventures. By integrating intercultural awareness, effective communication, and conflict resolution strategies into our training approach, we aim to create an inclusive and supportive environment where migrants can not only launch successful businesses but also thrive in a diverse business ecosystem.
Developing sensitivity towards different cultures and understanding its profound impact on communication is a critical aspect of fostering effective intercultural interactions. Sensitivity begins with a genuine curiosity and openness to diverse perspectives, acknowledging that cultural nuances significantly shape how individuals perceive and convey messages. To cultivate this sensitivity, it's essential to approach intercultural communication with a mindset of continuous learning, recognizing that each interaction is an opportunity to expand one's cultural awareness.
A key component of cultural sensitivity is active listening. By actively engaging with individuals from different cultures, one can discern not only the spoken words but also the underlying cultural context. Listening with empathy allows for a deeper understanding of the cultural influences on communication styles, helping to bridge potential gaps and build connections. Moreover, this approach underscores the importance of respecting and valuing diverse viewpoints, creating an environment where individuals feel heard and understood.
Language, as a fundamental tool of communication, plays a pivotal role in cultural sensitivity. Acknowledging linguistic diversity and embracing multilingualism fosters inclusivity. Recognizing that certain words, expressions, or tones may carry different meanings in diverse cultural contexts prevents misinterpretations and ensures messages are conveyed accurately. Language sensitivity involves adapting communication styles to accommodate linguistic variations, ultimately promoting effective and respectful cross-cultural dialogue.
Cultural sensitivity extends beyond individual interactions to encompass broader cultural norms and practices. Being mindful of cultural customs, traditions, and social norms helps avoid unintentional misunderstandings. This awareness allows individuals to navigate social situations with cultural appropriateness, showing respect for the diversity that enriches our interactions. Cultivating cultural sensitivity also involves embracing a non-judgmental attitude, acknowledging that differences should be celebrated rather than viewed through a lens of superiority or inferiority.
Lastly, developing cultural sensitivity requires a commitment to self-reflection and continuous growth. Regularly examining one's assumptions, biases, and stereotypes fosters a deeper understanding of personal perspectives and encourages a more open-minded approach to intercultural communication. Through self-awareness, individuals can actively work towards dismantling preconceived notions, fostering an inclusive and culturally sensitive environment where effective communication thrives.
In the pursuit of developing intercultural competence and effective communication within the context of migrant entrepreneurship, our training module adopts a dynamic approach centered on experiential learning. Three carefully curated activities, namely the "Island of Homogeneity," "Mirror Image," and " Conflict Resolution Simulation ," immerse participants in engaging scenarios designed to mirror real-world challenges and opportunities. These experiential learning activities are strategically woven into the fabric of our module to enhance awareness, sensitivity, and intercultural communication skills.
And finally, the second activity of this module, "Story Circles" is a crucial activity in our module, serving as a transformative tool for building intercultural competencies among migrant entrepreneurs. By encouraging participants to share personal narratives, this activity not only cultivates empathy, cultural humility, and active listening but also creates a dynamic space for exploring diverse perspectives, aligning seamlessly with our module's goals of enhancing intercultural communication skills and fostering understanding in multicultural business environments.
ISLAND
OF MONOMULTI
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By adapting "The Island of Monomulti (3 cultures)" with a focus on Cross-cultural Collaboration and Conflict Resolution, participants can gain valuable insights into the dynamics of working with diverse cultures, learn to appreciate different perspectives, and develop effective communication and collaboration skills across cultures.
Other learning outcomes are:
● Raised awareness of diversity and consequences
● Experienced a multi-cultural situation
● Building collaboration in multicultural teams and managing conflicts arising from cultural differences
● Promoting inclusive environments and facilitating collaboration among individuals from diverse culture.
1,5 - 2 hours
(incl. evaluation)
● Cartoon
● Scissors
● Glue
● Pencils
● Role cards
● 3 x observation questions
Preparation
Island of Monomulti is an exercise in which three different cultures meet and have to co-operate.
The participants are divided in 3 groups where each group represents a different culture. Each group gets their role card and they have 20 minutes to prepare their culture as described on the role card. On all role cards is said that they should practice it very profound. After this preparation the whole group comes together. Then, the trainer will give them the insturicion, reading the story. Participants will have 30 minutes to build a shelter. Each culture has one observer who gets questions. After the construction phase the evaluation follows.
The group is going to be divided in 3 groups. Each group will represent one culture and get their role card. Before the activity you will need to print the role cards, we recommend to print one handout for each participant in each group.
The cultures for the groups are: COLDONIA, TURTELINA and SMILIA. You will find the link to the materials in the handouts bellow.
Each culture has one observer who observes their group during the whole activity. The will have some questions to follow while observing. You will also have to print out the questions for each observer.
You may also print out the story you will read to the groups.
However, it is also possible to prepare all materials digitally and send them as pictures in order to be eco-friendly. It’s up to you.
Description
Divide the participants into 3 groups.
Each group should select one observer. Handout the question to each observer.
Handout role cards to each group.
Groups will have 25 minutes to prepare their culture as described on the role card.
Follow the time and encourage them to practice their culture.
Each culture should go in a different room or corner where they can not see each other, so they don’t know anything related to the other cultures.
After this preparation the whole group comes together. Then, the trainer will instruct them and read the following story:
An enormous storm in this area has caused that your ship went down to the bottom of the ocean. You managed to reach this desert island. It seems also other ships wrecked because you have already noticed that groups from other ships managed to get here.
The island is very mountainous and there seems to be only one spot where it’s possible to live. Which means that you have to live together with the other groups that reached the island. Because of the location of the island it’s not expected that help will arrive before the end of next month. So you have to survive for at least five weeks.
Food doesn’t seem to be a problem. There are lots of fruits growing and all kind of animals to hunt.
The first concern is to built a shelter where all people can sleep and hide in case of heavy rain and storm and which can protect you against wild animals. It’s important to do this as fast as possible because this area is known for sudden changing weather conditions. You’ll have to do it together with the other groups because there’s not enough space and material to built more then one shelter.
The material for building the shelter: cardboard, scissors, glue, rulers and pencils. The shelter must be stable and should at least be 100 cm high and 150 cm wide. It should have a roof and of course a door.
You have 25 minutes to build the shelter.
Participants will have 25 minutes to build a shelter.
After the construction phase the evaluation follows: first in the 3 culture groups then in plenary. Additionally there can be also an evaluation of Monomulti as an ICL method (questions see attachment).
Learn Check
Evaluation
Culture groups – 15-30 minutes
● How did you feel during the simulation?
● What do you think about the construction-process?
● Were there moments where you felt insecure or not respected?
● What do you think are the characteristics of the other cultures?
● 3-4 minutes feedback from observers
Debriefing in plenary
5 minutes
- bring back their symbols and any short comments to put in the middle
Plenary – 25-30 minutes
● Can you see a link between this simulation and reality?
● What can we learn from this simulation? – put results on flip chart
● optional: focus on facts, feelings, interpretations
Tips for the Trainer
● Read well the preparation and description parts before you start the activity.
● Make sure you explain the role of the observers before the start.
● Check on the groups while they are preparing their cultures.
● Remember to follow the time.
3 TYPES OF LEARNING
LEARNING OUTCOMES
● Overview and importance of intercultural competencies for promoting social inclusion and overcoming barriers to integration
● Understanding cultural diversity and building sensitivity towards different cultural perspectives.
90 minutes
● Chairs,
● Prompts,
● Notebooks and Writing Materials,
● spacious room
Preparation
What you need to know about this tool?
Stories are powerful and deeply a part of who we are. When we center our stories, we open spaces for building trust, community, and shifting culture. Creating and investing in relationships are integral to transforming the world we live in. Story Circles are profoundly important to the process.
"Story Circles" is a powerful tool for building intercultural competencies and promoting understanding among individuals from different backgrounds.
Story Circles can be easily adapted to many different settings and contexts, depending on the prompts used, as well as being able to be adapted to any language. Circle processes, defined as the process of a group of people sharing personal experiences in a circle, have already been successfully used in numerous communities around the world in bringing together those from different backgrounds, in resolving conflict, in improving social integration, and in truth and reconciliation processes ( Pranis, 2005 ). Storytelling, on the other hand, is defined as a social and cultural activity of sharing non-fictional and fictional narratives as a means of entertainment, education, moral formation, or cultural preservation. Both circle processes and storytelling see stories as having the power to change behavior and reinforce values ( Haven, 2007 , 2014 ).
Circle processes provide a non-threatening way in which individuals can share their personal experiences and explore similarities, as well as differences, with each other. Based on intercultural theories (Bennett, 1993 ; King & Baxter-Magolda, 2005 ), many people are at the place of needing to explore similarities with those they perceive to be different from them, while some are at the place of being open to exploring dif-ferences. Story Circles, then, are developmentally appropriate for most people who would be participating. Story Circles engage all three modes of learning: cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioral as a more holistic way of developing inter-cultural competencies. The key is in the emotional connections made with other participants through this methodology, which often do not happen with other more traditional intercultural training methods.
Before you start:
● Chose the prompts you will ask the participants;
● Count the number of the people that will take part and if needed plan how to divide them into smaller circles. The best way is to have 6-10 people in a circle.
Description
What is a Story Circle?
A Story Circle is a small group of individuals sitting in a circle, sharing stories—usually from their own experience or imagination—focusing on a common theme. As each person in turn shares a story, a richer and more complex story emerges. By the end, people see both real differences and things their stories have in common.
A Story Circle is a journey into its theme, with multiple dimensions, twists, and turns. Story Circles are often understood as deriving from indigenous traditions. There are many variations. Theatermakers such as Roadside Theater and John O’Neal have been central in developing the practice for use in creating original performance and community telling and listening projects. Story Circles can become practical interventions for building shared power and moving to action after hearing themes from the stories and building relationships between individuals.
Each Story Circle is unique and can take on the energy of the group. They can support perspective taking, empathy, cultural humility, listening, courage, vulnerability and healing. Story Circles can be light or deep - depending upon the hopes, intentions, and outcomes of your group.
Introduction:
Story Circles start with everyone in the same space listening to an introduction from the exercise leader.
Here’s a sample script for that:
Story Circles are a simple way to get at complicated truths. The guidelines are easy, and the results are often surprising. Basically, we divide into random groups of approximately eight people. Each group has a facilitator and one or more scribes to record stories. Everyone in the group has an equal amount of time—usually two or three minutes—to tell a story on a common theme. “A story is anything that has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Today we ask you to tell a story of up to 3 minutes based on your chosen prompt:”
● Share a story about a time that made you smile. This could include a connection you had, a moment of pride, or a moment of joy.
● Share a story about a time you felt a sense of belonging—or the opposite—to this nation.
● Share a story about an element or object which grounds you (e.g. ocean, touchstone, etc...).
● Share a story about a mentor or ancestor who taught you something important to you.
● Share a story about a time you broke through a barrier to connect with someone different from yourself or with whom you disagreed.
● Share a story about a time where experienced hope.
● Share a story about familial migration.
● Share a story about a time where you experienced a moment of growth.
● Share a story…. [let it be open ended and let the first story guide or inspire the next one]. Or generate one of your own that meets the needs of your group.
The facilitator tells the first story, then keeps time and calls on each storyteller in turn. The important things to remember are that:
● A story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. This isn’t a time to offer opinions or commentary, but to share something you experienced or observed.
● Listening is as important as speaking; each person receives full attention while telling his or her story. It isn’t about performance: the idea is to listen for the essence of what is being shared, however the storyteller wants to tell it.
● If you’re thinking about the story you’re going to tell when it’s your turn, it won’t be easy to give your full attention to other storytellers.
Attention passes around the circle in either direction. You can pass, and will be given another opportunity to tell a story at the end of the circle. If someone declines, that’s fine. Don’t insist.
● There are absolutely no questions, criticisms, cross-talk, or comments on any story while sharing is going on. Every story anyone wants to share is welcome. Even if someone’s story reminds you of your own experience—even if you were there when the story unfolded and remember it differently—it’s not okay to contradict, correct, or embellish someone else’s story.
● We thank each storyteller and take a breath between stories to let them sink in before the next story comes.
Timing (this is a sample schedule for a 1.5 hours story circle experience):
:00
Exercise leader introduces process to everyone
:10
5 minutes to get into small groups
:15
3 minutes apiece for stories (with a brief introduction and a group of 8, this will equal about 30 minutes)
:45
15 minutes to reflect together on the stories shared
1:00
Reassemble into the large group
1:05
15 minutes to share and discuss
1:20
End
Learn Check
At the end, the members of each Story Circle will take a few minutes to reflect together on what was revealed by all of the stories.
Were there common themes?
Notable differences?
What stood out for you, if anything?
What touched you, if anything?
What feelings and ideas were sparked?
What did you want to know more about?
● Then we’ll come back together to share something of what we learned with the whole group.
During the Story Circles:
How did you feel while sharing your story or listening to others' stories?
Did you notice any common themes or shared experiences across different cultural backgrounds?
How did the storytelling process help you understand different perspectives and experiences?
Debriefing Questions:
What did you learn about yourself and others through this activity?
How did the emotional connections made during the storytelling process impact your understanding of cultural diversity?
How can the insights gained from this activity be applied in real-life intercultural interactions?
Tips for the Trainer
Each Story Circle has a facilitator who makes sure that people know and follow the guidelines, keeps time, and ensures that everyone has equal space and attention. The best facilitators are even-handed individuals who don’t need to dominate things
MIRROR IMAGE
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The "Mirror Image" activity is designed to address the following learning goals, fostering an environment where participants can develop awareness, sensitivity, and practical skills related to intercultural communication in the context of working with migrants.
1. Develop awareness and sensitivity towards different cultures and their impact on communication:
● Participants engage in a task that requires them to communicate non-verbally, simulating the challenges of cross-cultural interactions. By working on seemingly opposing tasks, they become aware of how cultural differences can influence communication styles and problem-solving approaches.
2. Enhance intercultural communication skills to effectively interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds:
● The activity emphasizes the importance of non-verbal cues and adaptability in communication. Participants will enhance their ability to convey messages and collaborate effectively, mirroring the need for nuanced communication when working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
3. Understand the importance of cultural diversity in fostering migrant integration and collaboration:
● By experiencing the impact of cultural diversity in a controlled setting, participants gain insights into the challenges and benefits of working with diverse perspectives. The debriefing session encourages reflections on how embracing cultural diversity contributes to successful migrant integration and collaboration.
4. Learn strategies for resolving conflicts and overcoming cultural barriers:
● The activity naturally brings forth situations where conflicting tasks must be reconciled without verbal communication.
Participants learn to navigate and resolve conflicts through non-verbal negotiation and collaboration, offering practical insights into overcoming cultural barriers.
15-20 minutes
for the activity.
Additional time for debriefing (15-20 minutes).
● Chairs or other movable objects.
● Open space for movement.
Preparation
Purpose of the Activity:
The "Mirror Image" activity is designed to enhance participants' non-verbal communication skills, teamwork, and adaptability in the context of cultural diversity. By assigning opposing tasks to two groups without allowing verbal communication, participants are challenged to find alternative ways to collaborate and achieve their objectives. The activity aims to simulate the need for flexibility and understanding diverse perspectives, which is particularly relevant for youth workers engaging with migrants.
Introduction for Trainers:
Before diving into the activity, trainers can share the following brief overview:
"In this activity, participants will engage in a task that requires them to communicate without using words. Divided into two groups, each will be given a seemingly straightforward task. However, the catch is that the tasks are intentionally opposing. One group may be asked to arrange chairs in a specific pattern, while the other is tasked with completely rearranging or relocating the chairs.
The purpose is to highlight the importance of non-verbal communication, teamwork, and adaptability – essential skills when working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. Participants will experience firsthand the challenges of navigating tasks without relying on spoken language, mirroring the need to understand and appreciate different perspectives.
As a trainer, observe how each group tackles the challenge, paying attention to non-verbal cues and problem-solving dynamics. The subsequent debriefing session will provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on their experience and draw connections to the complexities of cross-cultural interactions in their role as youth workers."
This introduction prepares trainers for the key elements of the activity and sets the stage for the learning outcomes tied to non-verbal communication, teamwork, and adaptability in intercultural contexts.
Preparation tasks:
● Divide participants into two groups, ensuring a mix of individuals from different backgrounds in each group.
● Set up the space with chairs arranged randomly.
● Decide on specific tasks for each group (e.g., one group brings chairs outside, the other arranges chairs in a 4x4 grid).
Description
1. Group Formation:
● Divide participants into two groups.
2. Task Assignment:
● Assign tasks to each group without revealing the opposing nature of the tasks.
3. No Verbal Communication:
● Emphasize the prohibition of verbal communication.
Teams must rely on non-verbal cues and gestures.
4. Time Limit:
● Set a time limit for the activity (15-20 minutes).
5. Observation:
● As a facilitator, observe non-verbal communication strategies and team dynamics.
Learn Check
Debriefing:
● Gather participants for a debriefing session.
● Discuss challenges faced, strategies used, and lessons learned.
● Connect the activity to real-world scenarios, emphasizing the importance of adapting communication in diverse settings.
Reflection:
● Encourage participants to reflect on the relevance of the activity to their work with migrants.
Tips for the Trainer
● Maintain a positive and supportive atmosphere throughout the activity.
● Use the debriefing session to draw connections between the activity and real-world scenarios in working with migrants.
References: This activity has been developed based on practical experiences and insights gained through numerous implementations in diverse settings. While no specific reference materials were utilized, the activity has been refined and optimized through hands-on experience to suit various group dynamics. The unique design of the activity draws inspiration from the challenges and successes observed in real-world scenarios, making it a valuable addition to experiential learning initiatives.
CONFLICT
RESOLUTION SIMULATION
LEARNING OUTCOMES
● Understanding Personal Reactions:
Participants will gain insights into their own reactions and responses during conflicts, particularly in situations where preferences and opinions differ.
● Observation of Others' Reactions:
Participants will have the opportunity to observe and understand how individuals in their group react to conflicts, showcasing diverse perspectives and communication styles.
● Application of Conflict Resolution Skills:
Through the discussion and role play, participants can apply and practice conflict resolution skills, such as active listening, effective communication, and negotiation.
● Reflection on Conflict Dynamics:
The activity encourages participants to reflect on the dynamics of conflicts, exploring not only the content of the disagreement but also the interpersonal and emotional aspects.
● Creation of a Safe Space:
The emphasis on a safe environment during the activity promotes the development of empathy, respect, and understanding among participants.
● Appreciation of Different Viewpoints:
Participants will gain a deeper appreciation for different viewpoints and learn to navigate conflicts without a winner/loser mentality, emphasizing exploration over competition.
30 minutes
● Chairs:
4 chairs in total (2 for each group) arranged in the middle for the discussion.
● Writing Materials:
Paper and pens for participants to brainstorm arguments during the ideation phase.
Preparation
Aim:
● To create a secure environment for examining and understanding reactions to conflicts.
● To foster reflection on personal and others' responses in conflict situations.
Explanation:
● This activity integrates both discussion and role play.
● Participants will be divided into two groups, namely Group A and Group B.
● The facilitator introduces a genuine conflict scenario, and each group is given 5 minutes to brainstorm arguments supporting their stance.
Description
Group Division:
● Group A and Group B position themselves on opposite sides of the room/space.
● The facilitator explains the rules and the conflict scenario.
Conflict Scenario:
● Envision being a student who has recently relocated to a new city and opted to share living space with a friend. You wish to have a dog (Group A), while your friend prefers a cat (Group B).
Ideation Phase:
● Each group has 5 minutes to collaboratively generate arguments favoring their perspective.
● Provide writing materials for participants to jot down their thoughts.
Discussion:
● Arrange 4 chairs in the center: 2 for each side facing each other.
● Participants take turns occupying the chairs to articulate their arguments.
● Only those seated are permitted to speak.
● The discussion is allocated 10 minutes.
Rules of Discussion:
● Participants express their desire to speak by gently touching the seated person's arm, facilitating a seamless exchange of positions.
● A practical demonstration of the process is provided before initiating the discussion.
Learn Check
Reflection:
● Participants regroup in a circle for a reflective session.
● Employ a designated 'speaking object' for reflections.
Questions for reflection:
● What happened?
● How did you react to this conflict?
● How did you feel while expressing your own arguments?
● How was it for you to hear the arguments of the other side?
● Did you listen to them?
● Was your tendency to avoid or to engage with the conflict?
Tips for the Trainer
● Oversee the discussion, ensuring adherence to the rules and promoting a respectful atmosphere.
● Signal when there are 2 minutes remaining and when the final person may speak.
● Conclude the discussion with a round of applause.
References: TOOLBOX FOR TRAINERS; A booklet of inspiration on nonformal education activities; created by the participants of the training for trainers "Youth Catalyst 2.0"; 2021 Czech Republic