While formal intercultural experiences like studying abroad or volunteering for the Special Olympics or a shelter for LGBTQ youth can provide opportunities for deep learning, informal intercultural involvement also plays a significant role in our ability and desire to build Intercultural Communication Competency (ICC). Taking the time to reflect on “critical incidents” or what we call the “a-ha! moments” in our lives, bring those formal and informal experiences together and provide a tool for meta-competence. Furio Bednarz, “Building Up Intercultural Competences: Challenges and Learning Processes,” in Building Competencies: A Handbook for Professionals in Education, Social Work, and Health Care, eds. Maria Giovanna Onorati and Furio Bednarz (Leuven, Belgium: Acco, 2010), 47–51.
After carefully studying this unit’s 4 lessons on Intercultural Communication (14.1, 14.2, 14.3, and 14.4.), choose one of the following 5 videos and comment on the following–
What this speaker is attempting to say to you
How the speaker has helped or hindered your understanding of intercultural competence
How you would respond to the belief that– We cannot truly understand and appreciate another person’s culture until we recognize, understand, and appreciate our own
What else are you thinking about? What are you feeling? What are you believing? Do you have other comments you’d like to make?
