Preparation Seminar

WELCOME We are your FACIS for the EP Track!

WELCOME

We are your FACIS for the EP Track!

SO

SO

WHO ARE WE?

WHO ARE WE?

WHAT CAN WE CONTRIBUTE WITH?

WHAT CAN WE CONTRIBUTE WITH?

WHY US?

WHY US?

Because of our differences…? Blond? Brunette?

Blond?

Brunette?

Because of our silliness…?

Because we are proud Vikings….??

Because of our wiseness

Because of our dedication and commitment

AND most importantly because we also have ONE common UNIQUE eXperience

AND most importantly because we also have ONE common UNIQUE eXperience

BOTH been on an AIESEC internship

Meet your facis

Nora AIESEC XP VPXe Intern in Malaysia LCP Future: MC?  Memorable XP abroad : Malaysia Truly Fascinating

AIESEC XP

VPXe

Intern in Malaysia

LCP

Future: MC? 

Memorable XP abroad :

Malaysia Truly Fascinating

Morten AIESEC XP Intern in Estonia LCP x 2 MCPVPER Memorable XP abroad My best international experience, 6 months studying abroad in South Africa- it rocked!

AIESEC XP

Intern in Estonia

LCP x 2

MCPVPER

Memorable XP abroad

My best international

experience, 6 months

studying abroad in South

Africa- it rocked!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Reaching for the AIESEC Internship! YOUR EXPECTATIONS

This the agenda we have created for YOU!

This the agenda we have created for YOU!

Agenda Outgoing Preparation Seminar April 09 Saturday: 09:30 – 9:50 Introduction 09.50 – 11.00 Simulation (Albatros Game) 11:00 – 11:30 Break 11:30 – 11:50 Culture at a glance 11:50 – 12:30 Group exercise 12.30 – 13.00 Culture Shock & A daptation 13:00 – 14:00 Lunch 14:00 – 15:00 Self Matching Sunday 10.00 – 11.00 Intern Panel Discussion and tips and tricks

Saturday:

09:30 – 9:50 Introduction

09.50 – 11.00 Simulation (Albatros Game)

11:00 – 11:30 Break

11:30 – 11:50 Culture at a glance

11:50 – 12:30 Group exercise

12.30 – 13.00 Culture Shock & A daptation

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 15:00 Self Matching

Sunday

10.00 – 11.00 Intern Panel Discussion and tips and tricks

Objectives of Seminar Preparation for the “culture meeting” / traineeship Deepen awareness of your own cultural background, the background of other cultures Learn or practice multi cultural skills Practical help in finding the right internship Damp culture shock through preparation and expectation setting Give orientation about different cultural concepts Give practical advice for everyday life “ Make you ready to take up the challenge”

Preparation for the “culture meeting” / traineeship

Deepen awareness of your own cultural

background, the background of other cultures

Learn or practice multi cultural skills

Practical help in finding the right internship

Damp culture shock through preparation and

expectation setting

Give orientation about different cultural concepts

Give practical advice for everyday life

“ Make you ready to take up the challenge”

Expectations From Us S hare thoughts and experiences H elp create a good atmosphere A ctive participants R esponsible for own learning E uh no use of cell phones!

S hare thoughts and experiences

H elp create a good atmosphere

A ctive participants

R esponsible for own learning

E uh no use of cell phones!

Visiting The Albatrosians Discussion 1. Observations (what did you see?) 2. Interpretation (what did it mean?) 3. Emotions (how did it feel?)

CULTURE AT A GLANCE

What is culture?

Culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another. (G. Hofstede) Culture is a system of beliefs and values shared by a particular group of people. Culture is the silent communication between a group of people who identify with certain events similarly. (E. T. Hall) Culture is an integrated system of learned behavior patterns that is characteristic of members of any given society. Culture represents a total way of life and can include anything from the language, religion, food, clothing, laws (written and unwritten) and institutions of society.

Culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another. (G. Hofstede)

Culture is a system of beliefs and values shared by a particular group of people.

Culture is the silent communication between a group of people who identify with certain events similarly. (E. T. Hall)

Culture is an integrated system of learned behavior patterns that is characteristic of members of any given society. Culture represents a total way of life and can include anything from the language, religion, food, clothing, laws (written and unwritten) and institutions of society.

3 Levels of the Uniqueness in Mental Programming of Humans specific for each individual group or category- specific universal experienced and learned learned inherited Perso- nality Culture Human Nature

Ice Berg Model

The story: Abigale loves Tom who lives on the other side of the river. A flood has destroyed all bridges across the river, and has left only one boat afloat. Abigale asks Sinbad, the owner of the boat, to bring her to the other side. Sinbad agrees, but insists that Abigale has to sleep with him in return. Abigale does not know what to do and runs to her mother and asks her what she should do. Her mother tells Abigale that she does not want to interfere with Abigale’s own business. In her desperation Abigale sleeps with Sinbad who, afterwards, brings her across the river. Abigale runs to Tom to happily embrace him and tell him everything that has happened. Tom pushes her away bluntly and Abigale runs away. Not far from Tom’s house, Abigale meets John, Tom’s best friend. She tells everything that has happened to him as well. John hits Tom for what he has done to Abigale and walks away with her.

Exercise - Abigail Group up in small groups Read the story Rank ”who acted worst” according to you Agree on a common list without using ”democracy” or mathematical methods Present in plenum Discuss the ”result”

Group up in small groups

Read the story

Rank ”who acted worst” according to you

Agree on a common list without using ”democracy” or mathematical methods

Present in plenum

Discuss the ”result”

Culture Shock

Culture Shock

What is a Culture Shock? An individual, who will stay in a foreign culture for a longer time will automatically go through a culture shock.This is mainly due to the fact that general assumptions and values of the foreign country and the individual will be different. This is why this person will not be able to explain himself/herself the attitude of its surrounding environment and to adapt his own attitude to the values and live style of the foreign culture. A culture shock depends on the situation and varies widely, but (almost) all of you will face a culture shock, and how you cope with it depends on how prepared you are.

An individual, who will stay in a foreign culture for a longer time will automatically go through a culture shock.This is mainly due to the fact that general assumptions and values of the foreign country and the individual will be different.

This is why this person will not be able to explain himself/herself the attitude of its surrounding environment and to adapt his own attitude to the values and live style of the foreign culture.

A culture shock depends on the situation and varies widely, but (almost) all of you will face a culture shock, and how you cope with it depends on how prepared you are.

Symptoms of Culture Shock Helplessness A nxious and distrustful Depression Self doubt Feelings of inadequacy Intensive desire for hygiene Increasing hunger Extreme Reaction to little things Homesickness Boredom Increase of tiredness Paranoia Physical Ailments Avoiding contact with people, self isolatio n. Increasing hostility toward host culture and the native people

Helplessness

A nxious and distrustful

Depression

Self doubt

Feelings of inadequacy

Intensive desire for hygiene

Increasing hunger

Extreme Reaction to little things

Homesickness

Boredom

Increase of tiredness

Paranoia

Physical Ailments

Avoiding contact with people, self isolatio n.

Increasing hostility toward host culture and the native people

Honeymoon: For the first few days or months the new culture seems exotic and stimulating. Excitement of working in new environment makes you overestimate the ease of adjusting. Disillusion: difference between new and old environments are blown out of proportion. As you face challenges of everyday living, differences become magnified. Many remain stuck in this phase (remember the UNESCO survey) Adaptation: with time you begin to understand patterns of new culture, gains language competence, and adjust to everyday living. Biculturalism: Anxiety has ended as you gain confidence in ability to function in the new culture. Phases of Cultural adaptation (1)

Phase of Cultural Adaptation (2) before departure after departure Feeling at home abroad Approx. 0- 6 weeks 12 weeks 40 weeks + - 5% 10% 50% 35%

Ways to Adapt to a Foreign Culture Assimilation Adjustment, make the necessary adjustments without trying to understand the culture Adapt to your environment, Learn from the foreign culture, without giving up your own values, critical reflection of your own and the foreign live style and basic assumptions and (Evident Culture) Complete adaptation, Denying of own roots, ambition to become a “real” native (Deep Culture) Accommodation (Internal Immigration) Retire into your own culture (ghetto life, concentrating your contacts on people form your country or other foreigners ) Resignation Going back home

Assimilation

Adjustment, make the necessary adjustments without trying to understand the culture

Adapt to your environment, Learn from the foreign culture, without giving up your own values, critical reflection of your own and the foreign live style and basic assumptions and (Evident Culture)

Complete adaptation, Denying of own roots, ambition to become a “real” native (Deep Culture)

Accommodation (Internal Immigration)

Retire into your own culture (ghetto life, concentrating your contacts on people form your country or other foreigners )

Resignation

Going back home

Coping with a Culture Shock Strategies to cope with a „Culture Shock“ reduce stress, normal techniques for stress reduction natural isolation or reduce aggression (sport) diary, speak with friends / other foreigners Advise Don’t isolate yourself to much (“Golden Cage”) First think/reflect, then speak/act Hints no expectations do not take everything for granted nothing is obvious no quick prejudice it is nobodies mistake balance between self-defence and openness use your possibilities ask if something is not clear ask for feedback

Strategies to cope with a „Culture Shock“

reduce stress, normal techniques for stress reduction

natural isolation or reduce aggression (sport)

diary, speak with friends / other foreigners

Advise

Don’t isolate yourself to much (“Golden Cage”)

First think/reflect, then speak/act

Hints

no expectations

do not take everything for granted

nothing is obvious

no quick prejudice

it is nobodies mistake

balance between self-defence and openness

use your possibilities

ask if something is not clear

ask for feedback

Top 11 - How to overcome Culture Shock Keep busy and active Establish strong friendship with people from the host culture Make a list of positive things about the culture and look through it occasionally Realize that everyone who goes abroad experiences culture shock Be an avid learner about the country. Find out all the information you can Try to trace every “strange action” to its underlying values Find someone (from your country) that has been there longer. Use that person to gain perspective Avoid foreigners who spend their time complaining about the host culture. Avoid criticizing the host culture yourself Work at maintaining a healthy sense of humour. Be ready to laugh at yourself When talking about experiences, focus on your feelings rather than the causes Know your objectives for being in a foreign environment

Keep busy and active

Establish strong friendship with people from the host culture

Make a list of positive things about the culture and look through it occasionally

Realize that everyone who goes abroad experiences culture shock

Be an avid learner about the country. Find out all the information you can

Try to trace every “strange action” to its underlying values

Find someone (from your country) that has been there longer. Use that person to gain perspective

Avoid foreigners who spend their time complaining about the host culture. Avoid criticizing the host culture yourself

Work at maintaining a healthy sense of humour. Be ready to laugh at yourself

When talking about experiences, focus on your feelings rather than the causes

Know your objectives for being in a foreign environment

Self - Matching

Morten and Nora THANK YOU!

The world is in your hands! Now it is up to YOU!