Culture, communication and intercultural misunderstandings: experience-oriented trainings

Authors

  • Lora Spiridonova Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6534-9225
  • Stella Palioura Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
  • Eleni Nevena Vazaiou Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
  • Rallitsa Nikolova Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
  • Tsubasa Takahama Toyo University, Japan
  • Anna-Magdalena Schulze Katholische Universitaet Eichstaett, Germany

Keywords:

intercultural competence, teacher, affective aspects, teamwork, students

Abstract

The affective aspects of intercultural competence are expressed in intercultural sensitivity through active self-motivation for understanding, appreciating and acceptance of differences between the cultures. The article presents experience-oriented trainings as a content of the discipline Intercultural education, regarding these affective aspects of teacher’s intercultural competence. The trainings are related to the concepts of culture, communication and intercultural misunderstandings in modern multicultural society. Their goals include expressing one’s one point of view, experience and perception, discussion and self-reflection. The emphasis is on the reflection in teamwork and taking into account each individual idea. The experience oriented trainings are followed by tasks related to cognitive and behavioural aspects of intercultural competence.

 

References:

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Huber-Kriegler, M., Lázár, I. & Strange, J. (2003). Mirrors and Windows: An Intercultural Communication Textbook. European Centre for Modern Languages, Council of Europe: Graz, ISBN 92-871-5193-8.

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Kinast, E.-U., Schroll-Machl, S. (2010). Handbook of Intercultural Communication and Cooperation. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen / Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht LLC, Oakville, CT, U.S.A. ISBN 978-3-666-40327-9.

Schwartz, S. (2003). A Proposal for Measuring Value Orientations across Nations. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312444842

Ting-Toomey, S. (1999) Communicating across Cultures. New York: The Guilford Press Wiio, O. A. (1978). Wiio's laws - and some others. Finland: Welin-Goos.

Author Biographies

Lora Spiridonova, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Assoc. Prof., PhD at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski“. Area of scientific interest – Preschool Pedagogy, Pedagogical Technologies for Play Interaction, Intercultural Education. Address: Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts, 1574 Sofia, 69A Shipchenski Prohod Str.

Stella Palioura, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Student at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski“. Address: Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts, 1574 Sofia, 69A Shipchenski Prohod Str.

Eleni Nevena Vazaiou, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Student at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski“. Address: Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts, 1574 Sofia, 69A Shipchenski Prohod Str.

Rallitsa Nikolova, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Student at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski“. Address: Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts, 1574 Sofia, 69A Shipchenski Prohod Str.

Tsubasa Takahama, Toyo University, Japan

Student at Toyo University, Japan.

Anna-Magdalena Schulze, Katholische Universitaet Eichstaett, Germany

Student at Katholische Universitaet Eichstaett, Germany.

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Published

2025-08-27

Issue

Section

Good Pedagogical Practice