Goals and Action Plans for Cultural Immersion Mentee Guide Week 5 The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

Peer-to-Peer Discussion What is the difference between a vacation and cultural immersion? * Please take a few moments to share your ideas and opinions The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

Developing your leadership skills during your international experience… The VIH Program considers that in order to be a good leader, you need to develop a global perspective and an in-depth appreciation for diversity. Going abroad is a great way to do this! While you’re abroad, in order to maximize personal growth as well as development as a woman leader, it’s important to get out of your comfort zone! As you know, your international experience is not a summer vacation where you visit tourist attractions in between classes. With some preparation, as well as support from the VIH staff, your cohort, your campus coordinator and your mentor, you will be able to develop quality Goals & Action Plans. Your Goals & Action Plans constitute an opportunity for you to articulate the impact you want to make in your study abroad country as well as what you want to get out of this experience, academically, personally, and professionally. Moreover, they will help you to successfully integrate into your host culture and country. In other words, your Goals & Action Plans will enable to you to ‘hit the ground running’ and start from day one to make the most of your international experience. The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

Why should you work towards achieving cultural immersion? Attaining cultural immersion will allow you to: Come into a deeper understanding of the culture, norms, and customs of your study abroad destination. Gain a deeper understanding for your own personal strengths and weaknesses. Develop new skills, in part, in order to adapt to your new environment. Evaluate your life and the world from a different point of view. Examine your own culture from a new perspective. Mentor Discussion Prompt: What skills did you use to work towards achieving cultural immersion? The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

Cultural Immersion Pay Attention Keep an open mind and pay close attention to your physical surroundings Take in the sounds and smells of your new environment, be observant to nonverbal communication, and observe the cultural interactions taking place. Respectfully Engage Talk with local people, get involved in cultural events, practice the language, and try the local food. Avoid stereotyping. Reflect Continuously Take time to process what you are observing by: journaling, talking with a friend, talking with a faculty member, and by looking for connections between what you are personally experiencing and what you are learning about in class. The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

Setting Cultural Immersion Goals Academic Examples: Develop foreign language skills Increase your knowledge of your host country’s politics, economics and culture Improve your professional skills Non-Academic Examples: Become more independent and gain confidence by meeting new people Engage in service, such as volunteering as an English tutor Take advantage of the arts in your host country by attending a musical performance or taking a traditional dance class The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

Setting Goals Take a moment to reflect on this example: Goal: Analyze the impact of literacy programs in Venezuela on gender equality. Action Plan 1 Attend literacy workshops run by local & international volunteers and document your insights on different approaches to teaching Action Plan 2 Volunteer with an NGO as a literacy teacher Action Plan 3 Volunteer at an orphanage reading to children The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

Setting Goals Goal: Improve foreign language skills Action Plan 1 Learn language in Spring semester Action Plan 2 Speak only in target language to host family Action Plan 3 Find a volunteer opportunity in target language environment The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

Setting SMART Goals Write down both your academic and non-academic goals and action steps on the supplemental worksheet Set Goals – Individually reflect on your goals you want achieve by studying abroad. Create Action Steps – What action steps will you need to accomplish this goal? Each goal will require a different amount of action steps. Share – Take a moment to share your goals and action steps with your mentor. Mentor, do you have any tips to share that might help your mentee achieve their goals? The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

VIH awardees have been able to accomplish amazing achievements while abroad, in no small part due to pre- departure planning. Reflecting on why you chose the study abroad destination, as well as on your academic major and professional objectives, can help you to formulate a specific goal(s). Using the time prior to both the VIH Retreat and arriving to your study abroad destination to prepare (i.e., make contacts; do preliminary research; refine your goals) will make the difference between a high-quality cultural immersion and a four week trip. We will continue to process and build on your ideas at the VIH Retreat and beyond! A Message from the VIH Program The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership