Introductory video

About this Module

In any phase of your study abroad journey, it is important to think about how you will adjust to your new environment. How can you develop awareness of cultural and linguistic differences between your home- and host-country and learn as much as possible about your global experience location? This course will help you explore the process of cultural adjustment and develop your intercultural intelligence - meaning your ability to detect cultural rules and create new rules to function in intercultural situations. By doing this, you will:

feel more confident about being able to deal with cultural differences,
increase your knowledge of cultural dimensions,
reduce stereotyping,
and you will acquire knowledge that will help you to choose or prepare for a specific study abroad destination.

Time Needed

300 minutes

Learning Outcomes

After completing this module you will understand:

That it takes drive, knowledge, strategy and action to develop intercultural intelligence.
How similar and different cultural and linguistic rules are across cultures.
How to be aware of your thoughts, reduce stereotypes and develop strategies to respond to new intercultural situations.
How to adjust your behaviour according to what is appropriate in other cultures.
Whether you are ready to go abroad and be more confident in choosing a destination that fits your level of drive, knowledge, strategy and action.

Target Audience

Students who are going to carry out a mobility abroad.

Module Structure

This module contains more theory than most other modules. In each step you will go through a theoretical introduction (3.1.-3.6.) before you move on to put your newly acquired knowledge into practice (3.2.1. - 3.2.2; 3.3.1.; 3.4.1.; 3.5.1.; 3.6.1.).

Step 1: Develop your Cultural Intelligence
Step 2: Increase your Knowledge about a specific culture
Step 3: Test your Drive to engage with the culture
Step 4: Strategize and plan your cultural journey
Step 5: Take action and practice adapting your behaviour

Keywords

Intercultural intelligence: ability to detect cultural rules and create new rules to function in intercultural situations
Cultural Iceberg Model: iceberg analogy of culture proposed by Edward Hall
Cultural Dimensions: empirical model of "dimensions" of national culture proposed by Geert Hofstede. It provides provides a generalisation of a particular national culture
Culture Map: Map elaborated by Erin Meyer describing specific differences in how people from different cultures communicate and consider ideas.

About the Developers

Marco Santagostino (University of Pavia)
Guido de Wilde (University of Amsterdam)
Daria Milone (University of Pavia)
Adriana Prizel-Kania (Jagiellonian University)
Annalisa Golfredi (University of Pavia)
Jonli So (University of Amsterdam)
Shane Lordan (University College Dublin)
Eduardo Alias Gómez (University of Granada)
Ivona Galic (Student Testimonial)
Marta Girabal Noguera (Student Testimonial)
Arsal Rehman (Student Testimonial)
Alicja Wydmanska (Student Testimonial)
Wahid Reza (Student Testimonial)
Claudio Santagostini (University of Pavia)

About License and Version

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 international license

The European Commision's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Comission cannot be held resposible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Version 1.0.0