Managing cultural discomfort

1. Project No.2014-1-LT01-KA202-000562
Producedby Auxiliuminthe frameworkof Erasmus+project“.OpenProfessional Collaborationfor
Innovation”. ThisprojecthasbeenfundedbyErasmus+programme of the EuropeanUnion.ThisOER
reflectsthe viewsonlyof the authors,andthe Commissioncannotbe heldresponsible foranyuse
whichmay be made of the informationcontainedtherein.
How to manage cultural discomfort
Task description:
The case descriptionsmirrorhow we „talk“toourselvesabout ourselves aswell as aboutothers.
Much of cultural discomforttakes placesinthe socalled“silentmind”.The silentmindworksbelow
the level of ourawarenessandcausesusto react automaticallyorhabituallywithfeelingsand
sometimeswithactions.Thishappens,forexample,whenpeople whoare differentfromusappear
or do somethingwhichmakestheirdifferencesstandout.
By workingonand dealingwiththe followingcase descriptionsyoulearnaboutyourself andyou
benefitbyusingthe opportunitytoexchange withothershow theythinkandact.
Thisactivityworks within5steps:
 Step1: Have a Look at the followingexamplesandimagineonhow youmightbe affectedina
similarsituation.
 Step2: Reflecthowyou(might) reactinthisor a similarsituation?
 Step3: discussinonline forum withyourpeers(findthe online forumonmoodle).
 Step4: find yourwayondealingwiththese situations(madeuporreal life experiences).
 Step5: if youare not satisfiedwiththe solutionsbringyourcase oryour questionswithyouto
the nextface-to-face trainingsession.There willbe time andopportunitytodiscusswithinthe
whole group.
Case description:Lee Mingis embarrassed whenshe musttalktoLester,a subordinate wholostan
arm. She doesnotknowhow to lookat himor how to talkabout hislimitation.Asaresult,she rushes
the meetingandavoidsgivingLesterbadnewsthatshe fearshe mightfindhardto take.
ThingsI (might) feel orwaysI(might) react
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2. Project No.2014-1-LT01-KA202-000562
Producedby Auxiliuminthe frameworkof Erasmus+project“.OpenProfessional Collaborationfor
Innovation”. ThisprojecthasbeenfundedbyErasmus+programme of the EuropeanUnion.ThisOER
reflectsthe viewsonlyof the authors,andthe Commissioncannotbe heldresponsible foranyuse
whichmay be made of the informationcontainedtherein.
Case description:Hansfeelsafraidwhennegotiatingwith issupervisorHenry.Henryisamuch larger
man thanHans and is froma differentethnicbackground.Whentalking toHanshe seemstostare.
Hans findshimself avoidingHenryexceptwhenabsolutelynecessary.
ThingsI (might) feel orwaysI(might) react
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Case description: Karl becomesangrywhenseveral of the peoplehe workswithchatteramong
themselvesintheirnativelanguage.He suspectstheyare talkingandlaughingabouthimorjust
wastingtime.He findshimself beingirritable withthem,avoidingthemandcomplainsaboutthemto
others.
ThingsI (might) feel orwaysI(might) react
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Maybe youhave a case on your own?
Case description:
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ThingsI feel orwaysI react
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