The Whole World Guide to Culture Learning


Book Description

Traveling to another country? To make the most of it, get out there and experience everything you can! Experience-based culture learning is the key to getting the maximum value from traveling abroad.The Whole World Guide to Culture Learning serves as a handbook for cross-cultural adaptation and a guide to becoming an effective sojourner abroad. Beginning with basic questions and then delving into the intricacies of specific interactions, J. Daniel Hess comprehensively covers how to understand a new culture. He includes self-instructional units, exercises and methods so you can pursue cultural learning in groups or individually so that you can both experience the vast and rich opportunities a new culture has to offer and learn from it. Contents Preface Introduction Part A: Building Perspectives for Culture Learning 1 Culture Learning 2 Attitudes and Character Traits that Promote Culture Learning 3 Methods in Culture Learning: The Action-Reflection-Response Strategy 4 Methods in Culture Learning: Reflection as Cultural Analysis 5 Culture Learning, Values, and Ethical ChoicesPart B: The Culture Learning Process I. Beginning Well II. Settling In III. Getting Early Glimpses of the Host Culture IV. Living with a Host Family V. Moving into the Cultural Milieu VI. Exploring the Values System Part C: Techniques for Culture Learning I. Journal Keeping II. Explorations III. Case Studies Part D: Returning Home Bibliography




Creating a Learning Culture


Book Description

Creating a Learning Culture features insightful essays from industry observers and revealing case studies of prominent corporations. Each chapter revolves around creating an environment where learning takes place each day, all day - fundamentally changing the way we think about how, what, and when we learn, and how we can apply learning to practice. For the first time contemporary work on this subject appears in one volume. Three sections address key aspects of learning culture: the modern business context and the importance of learning at every juncture; the organic and adaptive approaches organizational leaders can take to design enduring success; and the expanding role of individuals within organizations and the implications for business leaders, educators, technologists, and learners. Identifying the steps companies must take to remain competitive for years to come, this book explains how learning strategies applied to all aspects of every job can provide swift returns and lasting results.







A Beginner's Guide to Crossing Cultures


Book Description

The global village has arrived. Recent census figures show that communities in the United States are more culturally and ethnically diverse than ever before. And you may be just one of many who find it challenging to build relationships with people from backgrounds unlike your own. How do you befriend an international student or a new coworker from a different country? What can you expect when your church building is shared with a congregation from another cultural group? Why are your words and actions sometimes misinterpreted by others? Crosscultural specialist Patty Lane answers these questions and more. She shows you how to develop hands-on relational skills that build crosscultural friendships. And she provides practical resources to help you navigate multicultural environments with sensitivity and savvy. Filled with vivid stories of real-life situations, her helpful guidebook explains frequently misunderstood aspects of culture, debunks stereotypes and suggests ways to resolve crosscultural conflicts. Above all, Lane demonstrates God's heart for building bridges across cultures and shows how you can reach out to people of every nation, culture and ethnicity. Whether you are actively ministering to people of different cultural backgrounds, traveling to other countries for your business or simply want to make friends across cultural lines, this engaging handbook is a perfect introduction to the journey.




The Culture Map


Book Description

An international business expert helps you understand and navigate cultural differences in this insightful and practical guide, perfect for both your work and personal life. Americans precede anything negative with three nice comments; French, Dutch, Israelis, and Germans get straight to the point; Latin Americans and Asians are steeped in hierarchy; Scandinavians think the best boss is just one of the crowd. It's no surprise that when they try and talk to each other, chaos breaks out. In The Culture Map, INSEAD professor Erin Meyer is your guide through this subtle, sometimes treacherous terrain in which people from starkly different backgrounds are expected to work harmoniously together. She provides a field-tested model for decoding how cultural differences impact international business, and combines a smart analytical framework with practical, actionable advice.




The Whole World Guide to Language Learning


Book Description

An in situ or "on location" approach to language learning is presented for people going abroad for an extended period of time. The approach features two components: (1) the use of a mentor (native speaker who lives in the community and serves as a guide); and (2) the "daily learning cycle" of planning, practicing, communicating face-to-face, and evaluating. This approach gives the traveler responsibility for learning in real interaction situations with immediate feedback. Examples of topics covered include: benchmarks for evaluation; selection, communication with, and compensation for a mentor; hints for increasing interaction opportunities; language structures, nuance, and word clusters; cultural appropriateness; and getting a head start at home. Six detailed lesson plans are included for dining out, transportation, shopping, currency, medical needs, and figuring out meanings of unfamiliar words. Contains 49 references. (LB)




Becoming World Wise


Book Description

As world travel is growing exponentially, “alternative” travel has grown apace: from ecotourism, gap years, short-term mission trips, cultural travel-study tours, and foreign language study, to college-level study abroad, “voluntourism”, and international service-learning. This book is intended to help the new generation of ethical and educational travelers make the most of their international experience, and show them how to broaden their cultural horizons while also making a contribution to their host community.This book guides independent and purposeful learners considering destinations off the “beaten path” on connecting with a wider world. Whether traveling on their own, or as part of a group arranged by an educational institution, humanitarian organization, or congregation, this book will enable them to make their international encounter rewarding, authentic, enriching, and learning-oriented. This book draws on the author’s extensive travel and many years of guiding college students’ global learning. Richard Slimbach offers a comprehensive framework for pre-field preparation that includes, but goes beyond, discussions of packing lists and assorted “do’s and don’ts” to consider the ultimate purposes and practical learning strategies needed to enter deeply into a host culture. It also features an in-depth look at the post-sojourn process, helping the reader integrate the experiences and insights from the field into her or his studies and personal life. This book constitutes a vital road map for anyone intent on having their whole being—body, mind, and heart—stretched through the intercultural experience. Becoming World Wise offers an integrated approach to cross-cultural learning aimed at transforming our consciousness while also contributing to the flourishing of the communities that host us. While primarily intended for foreign study and service situations, the ideas are just as relevant to intercultural learning within domestic settings. In a “globalized” world, diverse cultures intermingle near and far, at home and abroad.




Deep Culture


Book Description

This is a straightforward guide to understanding the hidden cultural challenges of adapting to life abroad. Combining intercultural theory with the lived experiences of sojourners, it reviews key concepts, introduces a cultural learning model, and brings clarity to debates about globalisation and cultural difference.




52 Activities for Exploring Values Differences


Book Description

Stimulate lively discussions with activities for a variety of situations In 52 Activities for Exploring Values Differences, Donna Stringer and Patricia Cassiday have written and adapted sound, ready-to-use activities for settings where the exploration of values differences is beneficial: the workplace, the classroom, corporate diversity training, international team development workshops, conflict management and others. The activities cover a broad spectrum for the varied needs of trainers and teachers: those who like hands-on, practical but low-risk activities; those who prefer experimental activities; and those who learn best if they can reflect on ideas. The authors' "Classification of Activities" at the front of the book helps users choose activities that are appropriate for their needs according to risk level, time required, context (work, personal or general) and group (individual, team, organization, domestic diversity or multinational). The directions for the activities are easy to follow, and the worksheets and handouts can be photocopied for use.




Living and Studying Abroad


Book Description

'Living and Studying Abroad' looks at students who travel to other countries for study. It includes students travelling within Europe, from Europe and America to East Asia and China and vice versa. The articles report the results of research and also give detailed accounts of the research methods used.