Intercultural courses offered by IMPRESS

Intercultural Competence in Teaching (INTERACT) aims to help students to understand culture, the effect of cultural imprinting on behaviour and the significance of intercultural competence in order to become global citizens. INTERACT is made up of a series of complementing modules, each ending with activities that encourage the teacher students to reflect on the contents and apply them in practical situations in schools. The students work in teams consisting of students from both the TU Dresden and the Education University of Hong Kong in order to ensure maximum interaction between the two universities and cultural settings.

First, the participants will be introduced to the concept of culture and cultural models and will also engage with their own cultural backgrounds and values. Then, using these as the starting point, they will take a closer look at other cultural characteristics and value systems in the form of dimensions of culture and the influence of these systems on ways of thinking and learning. This will help the the students to gain a deeper understanding of the differences in prevalent values, attitudes and expectations in various contexts and settings, enabling them to view these from a new perspective. Using practical examples  and their personal experiences within the work in schools, they will apply these insights and critically reflect on intercultural encounters, thus developing their intercultural competence and promoting intercultural learning. 

More information can be found here.

Virtual lecture series 
‘Educational Systems in (Trans)Formation – Facing the global challenges’

The international and virtual lecture series ‘Educational Systems in (Trans)formation – facing the global challenges’ has brought together education experts and teacher students from Japan and the USA. A series of interactive seminars allowed students to ask questions, exchange ideas and discuss various key topics with international experts. 

The participants were able to explore different educational systems along the way and gain an international perspective on teacher training and educational research. By working in multicultural teams, they also developed their intercultural awareness and competence in addition to their specialised knowledge. As part of the ‘Ergänzungsstudien’ (Supplementary Studies) or the module ‘Handlungsfelder der Erziehungswissenschaft (BW-6)’ (Fields of Action in Educational Science, BW-6), the course was offered for teacher students at secondary and grammar schools.

Since the summer semester of 2020, there have been regular intercultural awareness training sessions for student teachers. The content of the seminars includes topics related to culture and cultural understanding, looking at one’s own cultural conditioning, the values, norms and cultural aspects of other cultures, as well as communication strategies. Using films, class discussions and critical incidents methods, these are taught, deepened and applied in an online format.

In the current semester, the seminar has been fundamentally changed and was designed in English due to discussions and cooperation with the international partners. More information can be found above (see Intercultural courses in winter semester 2021/22). This trainings were and are led by Jyotika Dalal (intercultural trainer, coach and mediator) and is addressed to student teachers of all degree programmes and subject combinations at TU Dresden.

Virtual lecture series 
Educational Systems in (Trans)Formation – Facing the global challenges

The course focused on key topics of school and teacher education in an international perspective. International education experts from Israel, the USA, Japan, South Africa, Poland and Germany examined the education systems of their countries and the current challenges they face.

The lecture series which was offered in the winter semester 2020/21 has been accompanied by a seminar led by Prof. Dr. Axel Gehrmann (Chair of General Didactics and Empirical Teaching Research) and Dr. Frank Beier. The seminar included interactive Q&A sessions with the international education experts as well as a concluding plenary discussion.

Furhter information regarding the lecture series can be found here.

The ICC program is a co-curricular short course offered by Stellenbosch University International. It aims to enrich students’ learning experience by equipping them with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to be more interculturally effective and appropriate.

In the summer semester 2022, the seminar has been fundamentally changed and was designed in English due to discussions and cooperation with the international partners. The trainings were and are led by Jyotika Dalal (intercultural trainer, coach and mediator) and is addressed to student teachers of all degree programmes and subject combinations at TU Dresden.

More information can be found here.

School classes in Germany are becoming increasingly multicultural. On the one hand, this is a great enrichment and broadening of horizons for all involved. On the other hand, it also poses a challenge – especially for teachers – because with different cultural values come different perspectives on learning, teaching, and the interactions that are part of everyday school life. To respond appropriately in these critical situations, it is necessary to be well-prepared.

In this workshop for student teachers, we addressed important cultural factors, beginning with an overview of culture and cultural understanding. We learned then about our own cultural imprints, and from this knowledge we looked at selected cultural aspects in other cultures, primarily in relation to teaching and learning. We also looked at differences in communication that may have cultural backgrounds and learn how to manage them effectively. In the last workshop session, there was an intercultural exchange with students from Stellenbosch University (meet & greet). Together, the two student groups analysed intercultural dialogues and critical incidents from the school setting in order to develop an awareness of culture-related misunderstandings and work out different options for action. The participants got to know each other and worked intensively together, sharing their perspectives and unique intercultural experiences.

More information can be found here.

During the winter semester 2021/22, IMPRESS also supported co-teaching and virtual exchange projects to enhance the collaboration between student teachers from different countries.

The format International Teaching and Learning through Virtual Exchange is designed to promote the intercultural, communicative and digital competence of students and teachers as well as to integrate international perspectives within and on teaching. Within the concept of the Virtual Exchange, the international teaching tandem “Global Weirding: Human-Environment Estrangements in Literature, Art and Theory” was held in the winter semester 2021/22 at the Institute of English and American Studies.