In a world that often emphasizes our differences and divides us along various lines, the need for intercultural dialogue and understanding has never been more pressing.
Empowering Conversations: Build Intercultural Skills for Effective Dialogue
This transformative experience is designed to empower students with the skills and insights needed to navigate intercultural conversations and build bridges across diverse backgrounds.
How can we engage in healthy and productive dialogue in today’s divisive society? Story Circles provide a way for people from different backgrounds to come together to learn from each other and to explore cultural similarities and differences. Through the sharing of life experiences situated within specific cultural contexts, participants come to learn more about themselves, as well as their fellow humans, and through this process, participants further develop key elements of intercultural competencies, including greater self-awareness, openness, respect, reflexivity skills, empathy, increased awareness of others, and, in the end, greater cultural humility. Story Circles require one to be vulnerable enough to share one’s own personal story, which is in itself a tool for reflection.
To build trust in higher ed--to demonstrate that investing the time and money is worth it not only to earn a degree but also to grow intellectually--colleges must ensure that students are exposed to views and ideas that challenge convention and their own thinking.
Fostering Students’ Free Expression: How colleges can support and encourage tough conversations. The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2023.
What will you learn?
Cultivate curiosity about similarities and differences with others
Practice listening for understanding
Gain increased cultural self-awareness
Join us for a complimentary lunch during this timely and important workshop!
This Session is CCR Recognized!
SKILL: Global Perspective and Engagement
- Understands and analyzes the interconnectedness of societies worldwide;
- develops and demonstrates intercultural competency and exhibits appropriate stewardship of human, economic, and environmental resources;
- identifies one’s own individual agency in a global perspective
Session Facilitators
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Rebeca Mahadeo
Student Development Coordinator, Intercultural Programs
Rebeca Mahadeo is a Registered Social Worker and currently works at UTM in the International Education Centre facilitating programming centered around interculturalism. Rebeca is passionate about discussions about social justice, anti-oppression, and transforming communities. She loves to read, watch reality television, and spend time in nature.
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Kathleen Meagher
Intercultural Education Programs Coordinator
Kathleen Meagher is the Intercultural Education Program Coordinator with the International Student Centre at UTSC. Kathleen has more than 20 years of experience in the field of global and intercultural education. She came to UTSC from York University where she managed the incoming and outgoing exchange/study abroad portfolio for the Asia-Pacific region. Kathleen taught English as a Second Language and Intercultural Communication as a faculty member at Humber College and Seikei University in Japan. She led the education sectoral program at the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, bringing together experts in the field to support education for peace and sustainable development. She also worked in the corporate sector in the United States, providing intercultural training for executives on assignment abroad. Kathleen has her MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management from SIT Graduate Institute and her TESL Ontario qualification, and speaks French and Japanese.
Partners
