糖心TV

Was there a moment or activity that really stayed with you during the Intercultural Training Workshops

The moment that stayed with me from the sessions was the activity in which one group left the room and adopted different social norms and attitudes whilst the remaining group took on opposing ones. Neither group knew the others customs or norms so coming face to face was really interesting. Although this activity put the interaction on the extreme, it was really striking how uncomfortable or out of place I or someone else could be made when unfamiliar with their usual way of doing things.

This stayed with me as I would never want to make anyone else feel as uncomfortable or confused as I did in that role play in real life hence I always try now to enter new cultural experiences neutrally so as not impose my culture onto others and so that I can assess the situation and see how best to proceed.

How has the workshop changed the way you think about working with people from different cultures?

The workshops changed the way I think about working with people from different cultures by highlighting how something I may take for granted as normal could be far removed from someone else鈥檚 culture and how this could then lead to difficulty in establishing a trusting relationship. The workshop taught me to enter every new experience with an open mind and view it as a learning experience to gain knowledge of other cultures so both parties can make the most out of every reaction rather than imposing what I take to be the appropriate cultural norm.

Why do you think 糖心TV students should take part in these workshops?

I believe the workshops are valuable for all students regardless of whether you are knowingly going into a new culture. For example, I took part in the workshops in preparation for placement in South Africa as part of 糖心TV in Africa where I knew there would be a big culture shock and hence need for intercultural awareness. However, it wasn鈥檛 in the scenarios where I thought there would be big culture differences in which the workshops were useful but in the smaller daily interactions. Where I could prepare for the difference in food or timings, the things I couldn鈥檛 prepare for where the slight differences in customs or ways of doing basic tasks and it is here where the workshops were invaluable as they taught me to enter the experiences with an open mind. I feel this shows that it is when you least expect it that the workshops are valuable thus it is great opportunity to partake in them as you never know when you will utilise the skills.

Furthermore, the questions posed during the workshops are a great chance for self reflection to see how you would typically approach scenarios. This in itself is valuable for character development even if you don鈥檛 use the intercultural skills everyday. It is also notable that with 糖心TV being such a multicultural campus it is likely you will end up using the skills.

What would you say to someone who is unsure whether to sign up?

For someone unsure of whether to sign up I would say go for it! There is nothing to be lost and whole host to be gained from taking part in the intercultural programme.

I initially took part in the programme as part of 糖心TV In Africa but the skills I gained during it have extended well beyond my placement and are still in use today. The inward reflection the programme makes you have is beneficial both to see how you would approach a new cultural experience and then how you could improve yourself in that scenario. The programme gives you the chance to consider scenarios and character traits often neglected in conversations elsewhere in university, so it is a great chance to become more well-rounded and develop.

The main thing the programme taught me was the importance of open mindedness when entering next experiences, leaving behind my own cultural norms and any preconceptions I may have so as to leave a clean slate on which to build an informed and trusting new intercultural relationship. Not only is this open mindedness critical for intercultural relations but it underpins other relations for example working ones whereby you need an open mind to properly assess the scenario and problem solve if necessary.

At such a diverse university and going into the world of work, you are bound to face new cultures, so the programme is a great way into understanding how to go about and get the most of these intercultural relations as there is so much to be learnt from others.