Manual for developing intercultural competencies: story circles

Manual for developing intercultural competencies: story circles / Darla Deardorff. Unesco/Routledge, 2020.

"This book presents a structured yet fl exible methodology for developing
intercultural competence in a variety of contexts, both formal and informal.
Piloted around the world by UNESCO, this methodology has proven to be
effective in a range of different contexts and focused on a variety of different
issues. It, therefore, can be considered an important resource for anyone
concerned with effectively managing the growing cultural diversity within
our societies to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
Intercultural competence refers to the skills, attitudes, and behaviors
needed to improve interactions across difference, whether within a society
(differences due to age, gender, religion, socio-economic status, political
affi liation, ethnicity, and so on) or across borders. The book serves as a
tool to develop those competences, presenting an innovative adaptation of
what could be considered an ancient tradition of storytelling found in many
cultures. Through engaging in the methodology, participants develop key
elements of intercultural competence, including greater self-awareness,
openness, respect, refl exivity, empathy, increased awareness of others, and
in the end, greater cultural humility.
This book will be of great interest to intercultural trainers, policy
makers, development practitioners, educators, community organizers, civil
society leaders, university lecturers, and students – all who are interested
in developing intercultural competence as a means to understand and
appreciate difference, develop relationships with those across difference,
engage in intercultural dialogue, and bridge societal divides".