CROSS-CULTURE EXPERIENTIAL RUBRIC ACTIVITY GUIDE

 

The following Activity Guide contains activities that a faculty member could add to a course or experiential learning activity to help individuals build cross-cultural skills noted in the Rubric.

1.0 Openness

Ice-Breaker Activity: Reflecting on Personal Experiences

Part 1: Partner Discussion

Pair participants to share responses to one or more of the following types of questions. Let participants know that they will be introducing their partner to the larger group. Participants will need to write down their partner’s responses.

Where did you grow up (state/country/region)?
  • Did you grow up in an extended family (grandparents/other relatives)?
  • What was your favorite celebration growing up and why?
  • What factors were involved in choosing your education/career path?
  • What do you do for fun?
  • Do you spend more time with your family or friends?

    • Part 2: Partner Introductions

    Each participant will introduce their partner to the larger group.

    Part 3: Reflection Activity

    These reflections will serve as the data for assessment of Openness. Ask each person to reflect on the following:

  • What did you think of your partner’s responses?
  • What experiences were similar to your own?
  • What experiences were different from your own?
  • Were there any responses that you found surprising? And if yes, what were they?
  • How did you feel about your partner’s introduction of you? Was the description accurate? Why or why not? (“Did they get you?”)

    • 2.0 Cultural Worldview and Knowledge

    Sample Assignment: Response to COVID (or another natural or man-made disaster)

    In the assignment, students compare and contrast how individualist vs. collectivist societies influence responses to Covid-19 regulations. The assignment should include the following sections:

    Issue Summary – 1 to 2 paragraphs

    • Who
    • What
    • Where

    Proposed Responses – 1 to 2 paragraphs

    • What responses were given by authorities in an individualist culture?
    • What responses were given by authorities in a collectivist society?
    • How did people living in an individualist culture respond to Covid-19 regulations and how did culture influence that response?
    • How did people living in a collective society respond to Covid-19 regulations and how did culture influence that response?

     

    3.0 General connection of experience to personal growth

    Sample Assignment: Learning about Cultures

    STEP 1
    Interview ONE person who is from a different country/culture. Ask them questions that will help you understand how their culture influences their identity.

    • Who makes decisions on what you should study and pursue as a career?
    • What is the student-teacher relationship like?
    • How do young people date?
    • What are your most important holidays and why?
    • In your opinion, what is the status of women in the culture in which you grew up?

    STEP 2
    Write a short summary of the interview. Provide a brief description on the background of your interviewee without disclosing his or her name.

    Step 3
    Write a short reflection on any similarities or differences between you and the interviewee. Were you surprised and why? Speculate as to the reasons for these similarities or differences. Identify your idea of the country before and whether it changed based on the interview.

     

    4.0 Connection of Cultural Experiences to Academic Context

    Assignment: Reflection Essay

    How do you think your cultural background affects your opinions of the readings, assignments and activities in the current course/training? Do you think your opinion would be different if you came from a different cultural background and why?

     

    5.0 Cultural Self Awareness

    Synchronous Session Icebreaker

    Ask each student their name and then ask them the following:

    Why were you given that name?
    Is it linked to another person in the family? how?
    What are the naming conventions in your family? is that convention related to your cultural background?
    What does your name mean?
    Do you like your name?
    If you could rename yourself, would you?
    Do you think your name affects the way people interact with you?

     

    Asynchronous Session Icebreaker

    Please use this blog space to post an introduction that includes:

    • Your name
    • Where you live (rural area, town, city)
    • What you’re studying in college
    • Your career aspirations
    • One question you have about each other’s countries
    • Post a picture of one or more of the following:
      • Favorite quote or saying
      • Favorite place to visit/vacation
      • Favorite food/cuisine
      • Favorite work of art
      • Favorite book
      • Favorite movie or theatrical production
      • Favorite hobby/sport and/or other pastime

    Describe and share what makes your favorite meaningful to you.
    Please read and respond to at least 4 of your (local and international) class colleagues’ introductions by:

    • Sharing commonalities and/or differences
    • Asking questions

     

     

    6. General Transfer of Knowledge and Skills

    Activity: Marketing a Local Product Abroad

    Develop a marketing plan for a local product to be marketed in another country. Identify the product and note how it is marketed locally. Identify the other country to be targeted. Determine the factors that need to be researched and explored in order to develop a new marketing plan. Draft the marketing plan for the target country.

     

    7.0 Understanding of Global Context and Impact

    Sample Assignment: Global Issues Research Assignment

    Participants research and write or make a presentation about a global issue.

    Global issues could include:

    • Climate change and its influences on the coffee industry
    • Loss of habitat
    • Deforestation
    • Rising sea levels and its impact on urban centers or coastal communities
    • Invasive species

    The research could be shared as a PowerPoint presentation, essay, video, audio recording, etc. The research should include an introduction of the topic and discussions of solutions at the personal, local, societal, governmental and intergovernmental levels.

     

     

    8.0 Effective Communications

    Activity: How to Run an Inclusive Team Meeting

    List ten tips for an inclusive meeting for diverse participants. These tips should address concepts, such as different communication styles (direct vs. indirect), time zone differences, hierarchy, formal/informal styles, high context/low context interactions, and concept of time.