Manual for Developing Intercultural Competencies (Open Access): Story Circles

by Darla K. Deardorff

This book presents a structured yet flexible methodology for developing intercultural competence in a variety of contexts, both formal and informal. Piloted around the world by UNESCO, this methodology has proven to be effective in a range of different contexts and focused on a variety of different issues. It, therefore can be considered an important resource for anyone concerned with effectively managing the growing cultural diversity within our societies to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.

Intercultural competence refers to the skills, attitudes, and behaviours needed to improve interactions across difference, whether within a society (differences due to age, gender, religion, socio-economic status, political affiliation, ethnicity, and so on) or across borders. The book serves as a tool to develop those competences, presenting an innovative adaptation of what could be considered an ancient tradition of storytelling found in many cultures. Through engaging in the methodology, participants develop key elements of intercultural competence, including greater self-awareness, openness, respect, reflexivity, empathy, increased awareness of others, and in the end, greater cultural humility.

This book will be of great interest to intercultural trainers, policy makers, development practitioners, educators, community organizers, civil society leaders, university lecturers and students – all who are interested in developing intercultural competence as a means to understand and appreciate difference, develop relationships with those across difference, engage in intercultural dialogue, and bridge societal divides.

The Open Access version of this book, available at https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9..., has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

115 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2019

Reviews

[Baroness Ekat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharing stories has been a part of all human cultures. It allows us to convey ideas, experiences, dreams, emotions in relatable ways.

As the world both expands and contracts culturally, it is important for us to understand other cultures and how we can work to understand and include each other.

This manual provides insight into the concept of Story Circles as a way for groups of people to become more competent in intercultural ideas and experiences.

+++++

I came by this book through searching free Kindle books related to Racial Equity. The title caught my eye as one of the things I hear often in the my place of employment is the need for Cultural Competencies.

I found this brief manual interesting and upon reflection think this would be a good tool to use at maybe a company retreat.

I could also see this as a tool for a Board Advance where they get to meet members of the community that we serve, perhaps even youth from such community organizations.

That being said, while I do believe this technique of using story circles to share experiences and cultural acuity, there is a time and place for it to be appropriate and effective.