Intercultural Communication Institute

This interactive course will explore how to cross cultures effectively by examining external borders and internal boundaries, offering a variety of theoretical and practical approaches for improving relationships between those who cross boundaries, such as immigrants, refugees, adoptees, students, people on overseas assignments, and those who come in contact with them around the corner or around the world. Issues of immigration and identity will be emphasized.

Designed for
Trainers, educators, counselors, managers, facilitators, and other professionals who wish to expand their knowledge of border issues, such as immigration and acculturation, and also for those who have crossed borders and wish to interpret their journey in greater depth.

Explore acculturation processes in both the host and home cultures
Identify and analyze the importance of places of origin, regional influences, ethnic identification, religion, historical events, and socioeconomic factors that shape intercultural relationships
Increase sensitivity to internal changes and transformation of values, beliefs, attitudes, and attributions and how these may be expressed in verbal and nonverbal communication
Consider issues of cultural identity maintenance, change, and marginality as people seek a sense of belonging in the host culture
Discover cognitive and affective distortions of ethnocentrism, discrimination, and xenophobia that people create as boundaries when they encounter the “outsider”
Explore processes of anxiety and uncertainty management as they relate to border crossings
Discuss transnational diaspora, including identity and adoption across cultures
Examine cultural identity change, marginality, and stress

Learning Activities

Interactive lectures, discussions, and dialogue
Group discussion to clarify concepts and share expertise
Experiential learning opportunities to assess personal and professional borders and boundaries
Examination of video and film selections and songs/music as they relate to physical, personal, or organizational boundaries

Faculty: Prany Sananikone and Dorothy Sermol

Prany Sananikone is the director of Diversity Relations and Educational Programs, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, at the University of California at Irvine. He develops, oversees, and runs staff development programs for the main campus and the medical center. Previously, Prany worked extensively with community-based nonprofit organizations, developing health, educational, and social services programs for refugees and immigrants. He has served as a consultant/trainer for law enforcement, medical, educational, and social service agencies, and for numerous corporations in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Dorothy Sermol is the director of Intercultural Communication Solutions, through which she designs and conducts training programs in intercultural communication, diversity, gender issues, acculturation, and conflict management for higher education, healthcare, social services, and private industry. Dorothy currently teaches courses in training and development and intercultural communication at Portland State University. She is a native of Scotland and has lived and worked in Italy, Germany, and Japan, in addition to the U.S. She was trained as an operatic soprano at the Royal College of Music in Glasgow and continues public performances. Dorothy also guides and evaluates writing for SIIC participants who are requesting graduate credit.