Intercultural Link News Magazine v4 i1 – Global Edition

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Anna.Collier

The newest edition of the Intercultural Link News Magazine has just been launched. Read it on-line or download it here. Enjoy!

AFS Intercultural Programs is pleased to announce the January/February/March/April 2013 issue of AFS Intercultural Link Newsletter volume 4, issue 1 – Global Edition, which can be shared with everyone interested in learning more about intercultural education.

The AFS Intercultural Link News Magazine is the quarterly magazine on intercultural learning in the AFS Network. The magazine features content shared by the Intercultural Learning Work Group as well as other AFS Partners and guest writers, including information on trends in intercultural education, interviews with experts in the field and overviews of upcoming and previous conferences.

Global Youth Voice Conference

Posted on September 21, 2012 by laura.schaack

International opportunities for interculturally-minded youth to get involved and collaborate with each other are becoming more and more accessible. A great example is “Global Youth Voice“, an international youth conference which brings together 200 young people from all over the globe with the common intention of finding out how young people can make the world better, together. An innovative approach to international organization, the project began in 2011 with a small group of 8 young people who dreamt of a place where all the intercultural-driven youth could collaborate and be in contact.

This year’s conference took place in Moscow, Russia on the 18^th of August, and was held at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. It is one of the three conferences that together make up the AISEC International Congress, an international event to plan projects for social and economic development. At the Global Youth Voice event, two AFS staff members had the opportunity to take a more active role and act as facilitators for one of the sessions.

Tom McLeod, an AFS returnee (Australia 2000-2001) and current Intern at the AFS Russia office in Moscow, along with Nonna Kovrizhnykh, Partner Director of AFS Russia, and Organisational Development Coordinator Natalia Zakharova facilitated a session on Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance. The 10-day conference hopes to foster a positive global impact in the way youth collaborate and interact, and aims to build a global perspective for future generations.

Do you know your preferred learning style?

Posted on August 17, 2012 by laura.schaack

Over the last 50+ years, many theorists have explored the idea that people have different preferred learning styles and strengths. These theorists have also developed techniques and approaches to guide your learning experience so that it is most beneficial for your preferred learning style. The first step, however, is to pinpoint which type of learner you are!

Howard Gardner

Each learning style theory is different and there is no “best” theory. In this post, we are featuring several free on-line tools to determine your learning style based on Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences.

The first site, businessballs.com, offers a relatively detailed overview of Gardner’s theory as well as offline learning style surveys you can download (one even self-calculates your scores).

A second online resource is learning-styles-online.com, which gives you free information on which type of learning style suits you and and how to use that knowledge to your advantage. The 70-question test gives you clear, graphic results to best guide you to your most optimized learning experience! Or you can browse the types of learning styles and read about each one.

This visual (to the left) and the text provided on the website explain how the different learning styles interact and are related.

It’s very useful to be aware of the approaches that support your preferred way of learning, allowing you to maximize your learning potential. Also, if you identify the learning styles that you struggle with the most, you can use resources like those on the website, Brain Training Games, for example, to improve aspects of your learning.

As noted, Howard Gardner is just one of numerous theorists who have explored the concept of learning styles. His theory is not perfect, nor does it speak to everyone, but it is a very useful tool for analyzing and reflecting on our preferred ways of learning. There are several books available on Gardner’s theory, if you are interested in more information.

Happy learning!

International Association for Intercultural Education (IAIE) Conference in Veracruz, Mexico

Posted on March 26, 2012 by laura.kline-taylor

In February of 2012 the International Association for Intercultural Education (IAIE) held a three day conference to address the global perspectives, or what the organization called the “northern” and “southern” experiences of intercultural education.

The organization describes itself as a global professional group of educators that focuses on issues of diversity in education. In the recent conference, the group paid special attention to identifying non-traditional ways to promote innovative and creative exchanges in local, national, and regional systems of education.

Xalapa, a small town in the Mexican state of Veracruz, was a vibrant, historic and academic location for the conference, where nearly 200 persons joined in discussions that were intimate in quality and diverse in topic. Sessions were presented by students and professors from local universities such as la Universidad Veracruzana, la Universidad Autónoma Indígena de México, la Universidad Intercultural de Chiapas, and la Universidad Autónoma Indígena e Intercultural as well as key organizations such as GTZ Programme to Promote Better Education in the region and Kibbutzim College abroad.

Keynote speakers presented their ideas from a comparative, cross-national, and sometimes even cross-continental perspective. Topics included culturally sensitive collaborative learning, the use of drama in intercultural education, and critical pedagogy. Concepts such as cultural diversity in the classroom, constructions of difference, the ideas of Paulo Freire, Augsto Boal and many others were also present. The panels and workshops were held in both English and Spanish, and much value was placed not only on the English-Spanish bilingual environment, but also on educational contexts that foster the preservation of indigenous languages in Mexico and nearby areas in the region.

IAIE hosted the conference with support from the Universidad Veracruzana, Coordinación General de Educación Intercultural y Bilingüe (CGEIB) and the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME).

AFS-Mexico, one of these important organizations, delivered a poster presentation at the conference and was joined by local staff, volunteers and student participants from Finland and Italy to speak about our educational programs, and the AFS experience.

Summer Academy of Intercultural Experience will have two editions in 2012

Posted on March 15, 2012 by elis.motta@afs.org

In 2012, InterCultur, the consultancy branch of AFS Germany, is organizing two editions of the Summer Academy of Intercultural Experience in cooperation with Karlshochschule International University in Germany and with Karlshochschule International University, University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), as well as AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia in Malaysia.

The Summer Academies aim at developing applied solutions for intercultural challenges in business and society and is open to anyone aged 18-35 with a demonstrable interest in the field of intercultural communications and management. Primary target groups are undergraduate students and young professionals with a background or interest in intercultural experiences. Participants also need communicative English skills as all courses are taught in English.

Summer Academy in Karlsruhe

In 2010 and 2011, the Summer Academy on Intercultural Experience has already successfully taken place in Karlsruhe. This year’s Summer Academy takes place from July 29th to August 12th, 2012.

The Summer Academy will comprise lectures in three different areas: Intercultural Communication, Intercultural Management and Intercultural Competence. All courses are taught by university lecturers and professors. Qualified trainers with extensive experience in the international and intercultural field will support them during the practical sections of the workshops. This combination of academic resources and the knowhow of AFS represents an innovative, synergetic and applied concept.

Additionally to the academic course program, participants are offered extracurricular activities to fortify their experiences and to learn more about German and European culture. Besides complementary evening lectures by experts in research and economy, the extracurricular activities offer space to reflect on the learned theories and practices.

Summer Academy in Malaysia

The Asia-Europe X-Cultural Summer Academy on Intercultural Experience is a two weeks course on Intercultural Learning and will be the first intercultural learning academy in Malaysia. The Academy will take place in Bangi Selagor, Malaysia, from August 27 to September 7, 2012.

The Asia-Europe X-Cultural Summer Academy will focus on intercultural topics with emphasis on Intercultural Communication and Culture and Society with the intention of fostering the intercultural understanding between European and Asian students.

The Academy will comprise lectures on acquisition of intercultural competence as well as on intercultural trainings. All the courses will have complementary workshop sessions with theoretical and practical content offered by lecturers and trainers which are experts with large experience in international environments. Lecturers and trainers will come from Europe and Asia to create a remarkable intercultural classroom learning experience.

Symposium on Intercultural Competence and Conflict Resolution

Posted on January 25, 2012 by elis.motta@afs.org

In conjunction with the AFS Board of Trustees’ bi-annual meeting in Stockholm, AFS Sweden held a public event on 21 October: The Symposium on Intercultural Competence and Conflict Resolution.

The AFS Symposium brought together AFSers and friends from different age groups and backgrounds to discuss the importance of intercultural competencies as a means to both prevent and resolve conflicts. The guest of honor was her majesty Victoria, the Crown Princess of Sweden.

This event, one of the biggest in AFS Sweden´s history, sold out, with almost 200 people gathered at the conference center in downtown Stockholm keen to hear panel discussions on politics, international relations, intercultural communications exchanges, and, last but not least, how AFS has and can influence these areas. The first of three panels featured Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland and 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner; Jan Eliasson, former minister of foreign affairs of Sweden and former Permanent Representative to the UN in New York; Anders Milton, former chair of the Red Cross in Sweden; Lars Heikensten, former head of the Swedish National Bank; and Madeleine Ströje-Wilkens, former Ambassador of Sweden and current member of the AFS Board of Trustees. With local TV host Karin Hübinette moderating, the discussions centered on the question of “The importance of intercultural education to avoid violence and conflicts: What is needed and who is responsible to make it happen?”

Some of the more intriguing remarks included:

“There is no backlash on multiculturalism but we have not done enough for integration.” Martti Ahtisaari
“Cultural sensitivity is essential to conflict mediation.” Jan Eliasson
“More people are interested in contributing to making a difference today.” Anders Milton
“Youth enthusiasm was a positive effect of the Arab Spring in 2011.” Madeleine Ströje-Wilkens
“AFS changes international and personal perspectives for participants.” Lars Heikensten
“AFS can bring the individual action into a larger perspective.” Jan Eliasson

Panel two focused on the topic of “Are AFS students future ambassadors for peace?” and “How is intercultural understanding applied in reality by students, before, during, and after the program?” Participants in this discussion were AFS exchange students currently living in Sweden: Natasha Pickup (New Zealand), Donatello Piancazzo (Italy), and former AFS participants Astrid Johnson (Mexico 09/10), Annika Becker (USA 65/66), Aviva Katzeff Silberstein (USA 10/11), Filip Ängby (Italy 09/10), and Richard Walls (Australia). Anders Fernlund, former chairperson of AFS Sweden moderated.

Some of the key comments included:

“Teachers need to make time for intercultural learning in school for all.” Richard Walls
“Schools should give their students the opportunity for informal learning.” Aviva Katzeff Silberstein
“After being in Italy I realized that I know nothing about cultural differences.” Filip Ängby
“I wanted to discover the world, that’s why I became exchange student.” Donatello Piancazzo

Finally, Don Mohanlal, President and CEO, Nand & Jeet Khemaka Foundation India and member of the AFS Board of Trustees; Rosario Gutierrez Becquet Director of AFS Colombia; Sherifa Fayez, Director of AFS Egypt; Vincenzo Morlini, President of AFS Intercultural Programs; and William Meserve, Retired Partner, Ropes & Grey US and Vice Chairperson of the AFS Board of Trustees discussed more specifically the role AFS can plan in peace building.

Significant comments included:
“Stop the isolation between East and West.” Sherifa Fayez
“Understanding that life is enriched by difference is one of our tasks.” Vincenzo Morlini
“Tolerating others cannot be enough, we aim for acceptance.” Rosario Gutierrez Becequet
“Peace is more than the absence of war, there needs to be wellbeing, intercultural learning, and more” Don Mohanlan

The audience was invited to ask questions, which made discussions even livelier. All three debates stressed the importance of intercultural encounters and education. Inspired by the day, many continued the discussions during an evening fundraising event hosted by AFS Sweden. See more quotes via AFS Sweden’s Twitter account: http://twitter.com/interkulturellt.

AFS Sweden thanks all panel discussion members, visitors, the Board of Trustees, sponsors and the National Board for a successful and inspiring event of many encounters!

MARCEL GRÜNINGER, ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, AFS SWEDEN

Stereotypes in Us: Learning for Tolerance

Posted on November 16, 2011 by elis.motta@afs.org

AFS Czech Republic has decided to broaden its horizons by developing a new ICL project for a special group of young people: students of vocational high schools. The project, called Stereotypes in us – Intercultural and Experiential Learning for Tolerance, was developed by AFS with two other Czech non-governmental organizations: Multicultural Center Prague (- http://www.mkc.cz/en) and INEX – Association for Voluntary Activities (http://inexsda.cz/en).

AFS wanted to engage a different group of young people other than the participants and volunteers than typically attend secondary school. We were aware that Czech vocational high schools do not offer a great deal of ICL and their students tend to develop stereotypes and prejudice around other cultures. The main aim of the project is to prevent xenophobia and racism among students through ICL, using various interactive methods. We offer different activities for students as well as for their teachers.

The main offerings include a 90 minute Intercultural Workshop and three 90 minute Intercultural Workshop Classes where the students talk about differences among cultures, think about their own personal values, or discuss the role of media in our lives. The project also offers out-of-school activities: a 3-day Mini-Workcamp and an Experience Course. The Mini-Workcamp is voluntary work on a local project for 10 hours together with different intercultural activities, whereas the Experience course focuses on teambuilding games to make the participants think about themselves and their role in a multicultural group. All these activities are led by experienced trainers, including AFS volunteers, and accompanied by foreigners living in the Czech Republic, which brings the students face to face with different cultures. We occasionally invite our hosted AFS students too so that they can experience and learn something new as well. Finally, we also offer a Teacher’s Workshop which is a one-day event with time built in for sharing best practices and presenting ICL topics within this project.

The project, begun in June 2010, will continue until May 2013. It is funded through the Education for Competitiveness Operational Programme of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The programme mediates funding from the European Social Fund, one of the structural funds of the European Union, in the programming period 2007-2013. The total funding was over half a million euros, covering all project-related expenses.

Stereotypes in Us looks to the long-term and has multiple connected pieces. We are happy to share the AFS vision in additional places and offer new perspectives to young people. Learn more at: http://stereotypek.mkc.cz/

Karolína Kouslová, Educational Program Coordinator, AFS Czech Republic