The Art of Dialogue in Building Cross-Cultural Sensitivity in the Classroom

Abstract

This article describes an exercise used to cultivate cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity in a classroom setting. The exercise was developed on the premise that a combination of documentary and interactional approaches is effective for building cross-cultural sensitivity. Students are assigned specific countries on which they are required to obtain factual information and personalize the information on their respective countries. Multicultural teams are developed with each team member representing a different personality. Each team is responsible for developing group norms, identifying similarities and differences, and for suggesting possible ways of dealing with the challenges faced. This exercise fosters discussion on management concepts within a multicultural environment.