Preventing cultural misunderstandings  [30.09.19]

Working in international teams is also becoming increasingly important in everyday working life. To make it easier for foreign students in Hohenheim, Buddys provide them with support. In future, these buddies will be prepared for the Do's and Don't's in an intercultural context by the University of Hohenheim's Office of International Affairs. On the first day, twelve students attended the English-language workshop.

Once or twice a year, buddies from the International Students Organisation (ISO) will be trained in intercultural competence at the University of Hohenheim. Many of them have already been abroad as exchange students and have experienced for themselves what it means to be a foreigner in another country. They would like to make it easier for new students from abroad to get started in Germany.

The psychologist and intercultural trainer Verena Berthold trains the 12 students in topics such as "critically questioning their own actions," "analyzing and evaluating stereotypes," "reflecting on their own cultural use of language," and "interpreting non-verbal signals."

The workshop was made possible by funds from the Federal Foreign Office, provided by the DAAD.

 

Text: A.Schmid; Translation: Neudorfer