Concepts of Culture

Module 1 of the Intercultural Train-the-trainer Course

An in-depth analysis of the many approaches to culture is at the center of this first module. We look at which definitions are appropriate for use in training and how they define the participants’ job profile of the intercultural trainer.

The overall goal of the module is to guide participants towards their own professional profile as intercultural trainers. While this will be an ongoing topic in the other modules, too, these three days will show the broad spectrum of theoretical concepts in which the intercultural trainers are operating.

We discuss ‘culture‘ from an academic perspective and derive its numerous interpretations historically. From there, we make the practical connection to intercultural training and provide you with tools for an effective introduction, including methods to visualize cultural preferences.

Considerable time is dedicated to the comparison of cultures using different approaches towards identifying and analyzing culture. We discuss in detail the significance of the works of Hall, Hofstede, Trompenaars and others for intercultural training.

Finally, we also look at the mutual influence of culture and religion. In many situations 'intercultural' and 'interreligious' cannot be separated. For trainers, especially those without a religious background, this is can be a challenge.

Topics discussed:

Culture: how to find a definition that can be used in intercultural training.
Intercultural, multicultural, transcultural — three approaches and their influence on intercultural training.
Dimensions of cultural comparison and their practical application in intercultural training.
Training methods for the analysis and visualization of value systems.
Religion and intercultural training.
Short introduction to intercultural philosophy: important thinkers from Hegel to Bhabha.
Job profile of the intercultural trainer.

Course Design

Module 2 of the Intercultural/Diversity Train-the-Trainer Course

The sustainability of any training depends on a solid course design and a good methodology. In this module we will introduce you to our concept for the development and implementation of effective intercultural training.

Overall, this is perhaps the most ‘technical’ module in our Intercultural Train-the-Trainer Course. As in all modules, we will enhance your methodology by introducing classic and new tools for intercultural instruction. With our concepts of assessment, curriculum development and transfer/evaluation you will meet the certification criteria of all major educational associations.

To gain an understanding of our clients' situation, we first focus on the needs assessment. Here you will learn how to position the intercultural training in the larger context of organizational development.

We work on your precision in defining learning targets for the intercultural training as well as the development of the training concept. In a workshop, participants will design two curricula - one for general cultural awareness training and one for training on a specific national culture.

Sustainability also depends a lot on the transfer concepts through which the contents of the intercultural training are connected with the daily work life of participants. Therefore, we highlight what comes after the training: transfer and evaluation.

Topics discussed:

Introduction to intercultural adult education
Needs assessment for intercultural training in organizations
Defining target groups
Taxonomies of intercultural learning
Learning targets in intercultural training
Curriculum development for cultural awareness trainings and for country-specific trainings
Training methods
Role plays
Transfer and evaluation methods

Conflict Resolution in Intercultural and Diversity Training

Module 3 of the Intercultural/Diversity Train-the-Trainer Course

Conflicts and minor disruptions are part and parcel of everyday training. The intercultural context, however, adds a particularly sensitive dimension of potential causes of conflicts. This module illustrates and conveys strategies to maintain and restore a productive working atmosphere within the training group.

In this module, we will discuss real conflict situations collected in years of training experience. These will be reviewed in case studies and interventions will be developed by the group. One problem which may arise in intercultural training is, for example, a lack of acceptance of topic or of the trainer on the part of the group. Situations like these require smart strategies.

We analyze intercultural conflicts from two perspectives: We look at conflicts that triggered the training in the first place as well as those, which arise during a seminar. You will learn how to identify the causes for conflicts, keeping in mind that the core of the problem is in fact is not always of an intercultural nature.

We look at the process of conflicts from a cross-cultural perspective. This includes a comparison of various models of group dynamics and escalation/de-escalation strategies.

Complaint management for trainers as well as available channels for neutral arbitration and a short introduction to intercultural mediation are further elements of the module.

As in all modules, participants will be invited to present their own training units. In this module, however, we will add some conflict simulations, thus giving you an opportunity to practice your conflict resolution skills on within the protected environment of this course.

Topics discussed:

"Intercultural conflicts in training" or "Conflicts in intercultural training"`?
Causes of conflicts and conflict anticipation
The role of culture in conflicts
Fundamental skills in handling disruptions within the group
Adapting training targets in case of conflicts
Acceptance problems of the trainer
Transaction analysis from an intercultural perspective

Intercultural Human Resource Development

Module 4 of the Intercultural Train-the-trainer Course

Training is an important instrument of intercultural human resource development. Whoever wants to be successful as a trainer needs to know the needs and procedures within companies. In this module, we will look at the market and the means by which (cultural) diversity in an organization can be managed.

We show you the various tasks within intercultural human resource development. Based on an organization that places the idea of a ‘welcoming culture’ at the center of its corporate culture, we will develop a vision for its future development.

We look at other forms of diversity within an organization. Diversity Management and intercultural management are closely related but also distinct from each other in many points. Here, we will show parallels and differences. Since national culture and religion are given substantial space throughout the course, we will now concentrate on age, disability, gender and sexual orientation.

Finally, we look into the ‘classical’ tasks of intercultural human resource development in the context of foreign assignment management. This includes potential conflicts before, during, and after an assignment but also tools to assess intercultural competence. Finally, a connection to the services provided by relocation agencies will be made.

Topics discussed:

Introduction to intercultural human resource development
The place of intercultural training within HR development
Employer branding in the context of diversity
Diversity Management vs. Intercultural Management
Diversity categories from an intercultural perspective
Foreign assignments— from preparation to re-integration
Tools for measuring intercultural competence
Culture-sensitive selection of staff

Intercultural Train-the-Trainer Course

Module Descriptions

Concepts of Culture

Module 1 of the Intercultural Train-the-trainer Course

Topics discussed:

Course Design

Module 2 of the Intercultural/Diversity Train-the-Trainer Course

Topics discussed:

Conflict Resolution in Intercultural and Diversity Training

Module 3 of the Intercultural/Diversity Train-the-Trainer Course

Topics discussed:

Intercultural Human Resource Development

Module 4 of the Intercultural Train-the-trainer Course

Topics discussed: