1. Intercultural communication in teaching and learning

2. An overview What is culture? Why is culture important for you?
The ideal ‘multicultural’ teacher

3. What is culture? Many definitions – one of them is:
“Culture is shared learned behavior which is transmitted from one generation to another for purposes of promoting individual and social survival, adaptation, and growth and development” (Marsella 1994; here quoted from Samovar & Porter 2004)

4. A cultural model

5. The cultural dimensions
Environment
Time
Action
Communication
Space
Power
Individualism
Competitiveness
Structure
Thinking

6. Why is culture important for you?
Increasing internationalisation of higher education leads to
more and more foreign students studying in Denmark, and therefore
increasing demand on teachers to teach in international study programmes with students from many different backgrounds

7. Why is culture important for you?
Without cultural awareness miscommunication between foreign students and Danish teachers will happen more frequently
Miscommunication arises when behaviour of a person from one culture is judged within the framework of another culture

8. Discussion
Have you experienced intercultural communication episodes – funny, strange, annoying, chocking etc.?
What did you think in the situation?
How did you react in the situation?
How do you think about the situation and its consequences now?
Have you experienced situations where cultural differences have influenced the teaching/learning situation –positively or negatively?
How can we as teachers ensure that the multicultural diversity becomes an advantage rather than a disadvantage? How is the ideal ‘multicultural’ teacher?

9. The ideal ‘multicultural’ teacher?
Is aware of her/his own cultural background
Is interested in learning about the cultural background of the foreign student(s)
Is open-minded towards persons from other cultures
Considers cultural diversity an advantage rather than a problem
Avoids stereotyping based on culture