Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure Training Overview
Explore the Connect Intercultural Learning Network's pre-departure training activities focusing on cultural self-awareness and perception. Reflect on defining culture, similarities and differences in cultural definitions, the Dune Model by Jürgen Bolten, and discussions on homogeneity, interactivity, and stereotyping in cultures. Engage in thought-provoking exercises to prepare for intercultural experiences.
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Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training CULTURAL SELF-AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION Graphic by 905513 / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training What is culture ? What is culture ? In your group come up with a definition of culture (5 min). Write your definition on the paper. Read out your definition to the whole group and collect all definitions on the pinboard. Graphic by Stokpic / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training Definition of culture Definition of culture Culture is a universal, but very specific orientation system for a particular group, organization or society. It is made up of specific symbols and is passed on in the respective society or group. It affects the perception, way of thinking, values, and actions of all its members and consequently defines their belonging to the society, organization or group. Alexander Thomas, 1993 Discuss: Which differences and similarities can you observe between your own and A. Thomas definition of culture? Graphic by Stokpic / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training One Step Forward One Step Forward Picture by Free-Photos / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training What do you think? What do you think? Are cultures homogenous? Are cultures interactive? What is stereotyping? Picture by Alexas_Fotos / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training The Dune Model by J rgen Bolten The Dune Model by J rgen Bolten Bolten attempts to take a closer look at ways how one can define culture. His argumentation is that perceptions of cultural fields of agency are always perspective-dependent. Picture by fotoblend / licensed CC0 You can find the description of the model in AFS Intercultural Link Volume 5, Issue 2 on https://issuu.com/afsinterculturalprograms/docs/afs_intercultural_link_news_magazin/21; p. 4-6 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training Bolten gives an example by B. Mandelbrot concerning fractal geometry: A Spanish encyclopedia once claimed that the length of the common border between Spain and Portugal was 616 miles, while a Portuguese encyclopedia believed it to be 758 miles. Picture by WikiImages / licensed CC0 What does this tell us about perspectives? www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training According to Mandelbrot, the unclarity of the length of the border is a useless question considering the inexhaustible array of perspectives and measurement criteria that exist that would lead to a multicity of varying results. The result depends on tides (low and high tides) as well as cliff faces or rock formations etc. and how those are taken into account. Picture by WikiImages / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training Does this mean that one of the measurements is wrong? Not necessarily. Picture by OpenClipart-Vercors / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training One can, logically enough, not speak of a correct or false perspective; every perspective retains a certain level of validity, and only through their interaction may the multi-layered nature of cultural fields of agency become transparent. Picture by Pexels / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training ..the closer one zooms upon such a field the more differentiated and multifaceted the relationship networks (local culture, group culture, couple culture etc.) will be deemed to be, the further one zooms away the more undifferentiated and homogenous such a field will appear (organizational culture, ethnic culture, national culture etc.). Photo by Robert Emberly / licensed CC BY SA www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training Cultures cannot be clearly bordered; their edges appear, rather, as a confluence of diverse transcultural networks. Cultures are inherently uneven, or fuzzy. https://indiagoodmorning.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/16-portugal-spain.jpg www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training In a manner similar to the zoom function of Google Earth , it is undoubtedly also valid, when describing cultural fields of agency, to zoom away at times to reacquire orientation. [ ] When zooming in again, one would be less inclined to lose oneself within unknown parts of the field of agency as one would then also be conscious of the variety of interconnections with other network areas. Picture by geralt / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training an integrated method of continuous zooming in and out when describing cultures is helpful; in order to do justice to a culture as a structure, and as a process. http://gritslab.gatech.edu/home/wp- content/uploads/2013/10/heterogeneous_self_reconfiguration_intro_reconfi guration-1024x614.jpg www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training The Dune Model The Dune Model https://issuu.com/afsinterculturalprograms/docs/afs_intercultural_link_news_magazin/21; p. 5 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training One has to bear in mind that every observable cultural field of agency is bordered only for the purposes of better and more pragmatic knowability . It is, in fact, an arbitrary intersection within an infinitely networked field of action. In this sense, it s a fuzzy dune. www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training My My Identity and Perception Identity and Perception Draw a sketch of your body. Inside the sketch write elements of your identity as you imagine they will evolve during your stay. Outside the sketch write elements of the perception that others presumably will have of you in the new environment. In pairs: identify fits and misfits between the inside and the outside view. Picture by OpenClipartVectors / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training My My Identity and Perception Identity and Perception Exchange thoughts in small groups: How do I see myself? How to others see me? What do you think my drawing says about me? Which dynamics can be detected in my drawing? How may the semester abroad affect my identity? Picture by OpenClipartVectors / licensed CC0 www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
Connect Intercultural Learning Network Pre-departure training Personal development goals Personal development goals: : SWOT SWOT your stay abroad your stay abroad Bearing in mind fuzzy culture, dune model and focusing on your upcoming intercultural experience, make a SWOT analysis of your stay abroad. Based on your results, formulate your personal development goals for this period. In class or at home Work in pairs, preferably with somebody who you know quite well already. Help and give each other feedback. www.weconnecteurope.eu www.experience-map.org
