3. Intercultural communication and competence

We all carry our cultures with us all the time, like an invisible backpack or luggage. They are our own rich resources which we can benefit from every day. On the other hand, our cultures can also be obstacles that make it difficult for us to adapt with flexibility to a new counterpart in a conversation. The term "intercultural communication" refers to understanding between people who belong to different cultures. Intercultural communication is more successful when dialogue partners are capable of perceiving cultural differences as such, and of consciously engaging with them. Knowledge of the formative influence of culture is today more important than ever. Intercultural competencies have become key skills. But what exactly does 'intercultural competence' mean?

What to expect in this learning sequence: You will learn about the dynamics of intercultural communication and how it affects understanding between people in general. You will explore what it means to be interculturally competent and how intercultural competence can be acquired.

You learn:

• to realize that communication can differ culturally at different stages.
• to recognize cultural communication and working styles in yourself and others,
• to recognize personal, situational, cultural and linguistic factors influencing communication,
• to assign German cultural standards in an academic context,
• to describe the stages of intercultural sensibility

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