OISS staff members regularly attend trainings in order to refine our communication and facilitation skills. We tailor workshops to meet the learning goals of our clients and may include two-hour, half-day or full-day sessions, international student panelists, experiential activities, and active discussion.
Intercultural communication is the act of communicating appropriately and effectively with people across cultures. It is a skill that is learned through training and experience.
The ability to communicate across cultures makes it easier to understand and to be understood. Becoming a skilled intercultural communicator can improve your personal and professional experiences.
If you are a student, you will gain a better understanding of your roommates, friends, family, classmates, teachers, and employers.
If you are an instructor, you will improve your students' classroom experiences and increase learning.
If you are a university administrator or work at a community organization or business, you will improve your organization's services, outreach, accessibility, and overall impact.
Intercultural communication skills are learned through a combination of training and experience.
Training begins with learning about your own culture and communication style.
Next, it is important to learn about other cultures and communication styles so that you can compare styles across cultures.
Finally, learning how to adapt your communication style to more closely match the style of the person you are trying to communicate with will lead to better overall communication and understanding.
Intercultural communication skills are developed over a lifetime and require curiosity, dedication, and practice.
You can learn more about intercultural communication through research, reading, and participating in workshops. Here are some resources to get you started on your intercultural communication journey.
Articles and Books
Workshop "Intercultural Communication in Practice"
E-Learning Courses "Developing Proficiency in Intercultural Communication"
Intercultural Activity Toolkit
We tailor workshops to meet the learning goals of your organization or office.
Workshops may last two-hours, a half-day or full-day, or be offered in a series of two-hour sessions over a longer period of time.
Depending on your learning goals, we may include：
Let us know what you need and we will work to create a training that is right for you!
OISS has trained a variety of campus and community organizations including:
And many more!
There is no charge for Michigan State University offices, units, or student organizations.
OISS may charge a small fee to cover travel expenses and materials for non-profit and governmental community organizations.
OISS may charge a training fee for private businesses to cover preparation time, training facilitation, travel, and materials.
Fees are determined by OISS in consultation with you and depending on what your learning goals are.
To request a workshop, contact OISS at .
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