Connecting Across Cultures

Diversity is unavoidable, and that's a good thing - The starting place: knowing who you are - Creating a new awareness: what you didn't learn at school - The invisible boundary: how privilege affects your work and life - But everyone I know agrees with me: the influence of family and friends - That's not what I mean: effective, respectful communication - Say what?: why words matter - Making the connection: the four relationship vitals - Keeping a connection, even when the signal is faulty - When the golden rule isn't working: respectful conflict resolution.

In a world that is increasingly interconnected, it is important for students in the United States to develop an understanding and appreciation for the history, culture, and traditions of their peers in other nations. Connecting Across Cultures: Grades K-8 offers educators a roadmap to global education with proven, practical ways to modify the curriculum to prepare students to be contributing members of the global village. There are practical suggestions for all curriculum areas that will provide teachers with examples of how their subject area can move toward a more global approach. It's not adding more to an already full schedule; it's changing what happens in the classroom to increase student understanding and challenge attitudes and assumptions they have about other nations, cultures, and traditions. It points the way to forming friendships with students around the world.

WINNER OF THE 2022 ECPA CHRISTIAN BOOK AWARD FOR NEW AUTHOR Healthy relationships across cultures are possible. Dr. Michelle Reyes takes a close look at the concept of cultural accommodation found in Scripture—and especially in the letter of 1 Corinthians—to redefine how Christians interact with cultural narratives that are different from their own. Christians—whose standard of living is oneness in Christ, whose gospel is radically nonexclusive—should be at the frontlines of justice and of cross-cultural unity. But many of us struggle to reach outside of our own cultural bubbles and form real relationships that move beyond stereotypes and lead to understanding, healing, and solidarity across cultural lines. Why is that? Why is it so difficult to reconcile our call to be united in Christ with a celebration of different cultural expressions? What are the reasons for cultural differences and how do they so often lead to stereotyping, appropriation, gentrification, racism, and other forms of injustice? What does the Bible say about human beings as cultural image bearers? How do we reevaluate our awareness of culture identity in a healthy and constructive way? These are just some of the questions that Dr. Reyes explores as she faces the challenges surrounding cross-cultural relationships in America today and her thoughts on the way forward. Spoiler Alert! The way forward does require willingness to change. It requires embracing cultural discomfort. But by engaging with this book, you will be empowered to learn how to become all things to all people—that is: how to reflect Jesus' love in a multicultural, multiracial body of Christ and to share that love with a hurting world.

Chock-full of fun exercises, surprising tips, and real-world case examples, Connecting Across Cultures: The Helper′s Toolkit provides both students and professionals in health care, education, and social services with the skills to develop respectful, smooth relationships with clients and the community at large. The book offers communication tools to defuse defensive interactions, resolve conflicts constructively, and engage respectfully. Written in a warm, inviting style, the author shares her own mistakes as she explains what not to do and how to do it better. The book provides practical, hands-on strategies for connecting with people across differences related to ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, age, gender, and class. Because cross-cultural relationships involve extra challenges, this book will help you with almost every relationship you encounter.

Chock-full of fun exercises, surprising tips, and real-world case examples, Pamela A. Hays' Connecting Across Cultures: The Helper's Toolkit provides both students and professionals in health care and social service with the skills to develop respectful, smooth relationships with their clients and with the community at large. The book provides practical, hands-on strategies for connecting with people across differences related to ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, age, gender, and class. Since cross-cultural relationships add a level of difficulty to all the usual relationship challenges, this book will be applicable for almost every relationship you may encounter.

Cultural differences can cause problems. In this book, the author details a workshop she conducted and the lessons learned in Vecinos (broadly defined as “neighbors”) experiences in New Mexico that addressed these problems. The themes explored were crucial: the power of names, the tri-cultural trap, culture and cultures, stereotypes, heritage, values, racism, communications, conflict, bridges, and more. Though the focus is on relationships, the implication is that these relationships will lead to action and alliances as everyone works together on community and individuals’ problems. Some of the text is “commentary,” introducing a theme or reflecting on some of its manifestations. Illustrative stories are sometimes included to add to the account. A large part of the book is devoted to quotations more or less intact, by individuals that reveal perspectives on some of the larger issues dealt with. Although there are plenty of resources—books, documentaries, articles, films—the author states that they must not substitute for contact with real people. Included also are many timeless tips about dealing with cross-cultural contacts. The author hopes that this book will help increase the reader’s awareness, comfort and effectiveness in their own intercultural associations, and lead to warm, enriching friendships for many years.

This captivating and compelling combination of anecdotes and inspiration will leave you yearning to explore the world. Through this book, Maisel colorfully depicts how travel can be used as a vehicle for transformation and growth. Through personal examples, he shows how travel has changed his life. And how it can do the same for you.

This volume contains both innovative foundational research on global leadership processes and new models to advance theoretical work. The 'Practitioner's Corner' section of the volume contains lessons from three experts with decades of experience in developing global leaders from both business and non-profits.