Crossing Borders Education

Diversity Curriculum ToolkitLinking Intercultural Learning, Diversity Training and Study Abroad

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The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway.Henry Boye

This cross-cultural toolkit aims to support students, faculty and staff to engage with diversity issues on campuses across the US through the lens of intercultural awareness. Focusing on key skills, such as: critical thinking, conflict resolution, cross-cultural awareness, welcoming diverse perspectives, empathy, or active listening, empowers all students, domestic and international, to enhance their social skills for their personal lives and future careers.

The three intercultural sessions are suggested formats for targeted interactions and short dialogues for students of diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. They are designed as awareness exercises where the student learning happens predominantly through the direct interactions with their peers next to them.

You may also be interested in the educational approach of our creative tools to foster a culture of dialogue on campuses, while simultaneously upholding values of academic freedom and freedom of expression.

Facilitator Manual
Online Resources

Content

Orientation Session: Awakening Intercultural Interest

Suggested class time: 5-10 mins
Learning areas: Curiosity, Cross Cultural Awareness

  1. Why explore Diversity? (1 min) view

Session 1: Enhancing Intercultural Awareness

Suggested class time: 60-90 mins
Learning areas: Critical Thinking, Intercultural Awareness, Social Skills

  1. On Pre-Conceptions (5 min) view
  2. On Speaking a Second Language (4 min) view
  3. American Textures Trailer (2 min) view
  4. Why Initiate Dialogues? (2 min) view

Session 2: Growing Intercultural Skills

Suggested class time: 60-90 mins
Learning areas: Communication Skills, Global Competencies, Social Skills

  1. On Differences of Communication Styles (4 min) view
  2. On Differences of Backgrounds (8 min) view
  3. On Breaking Down Barriers (9 min) view

Session 3: Appreciating Cultural Differences

Suggested class time: 60-90 mins
Learning areas: Critical Thinking, Intercultural Empathy, Communication Skills, Social Justice

  1. The Power of Empathy (9 min) view
  2. The Threshold to Confront Issues (10 min) view
  3. Embracing Diversity (6 min) view

Additional Sessions: Screening Events & Open Dialogues

Practice communication skills, deepen intercultural understanding and interconnect students of diverse backgrounds by initiating Screening Discussion Events with the intercultural documentaries by Crossing Borders Films, set in Morocco, China and the USA.

Crossing Borders – Encountering the ‘Other’ – Discovering Ourselves