Flinders University: Diversity Initiative Grants
Final Report
Developing students intercultural communication skills
Debbie James
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Description
First year undergraduate speech pathology students and masters students in Biotechnology,
Audiology and Social work attended a half-day exploratory workshop within their cohort to
develop intercultural communication skills (ICCS). This key project aim was predicated on that
notion that heightened knowledge of the cultural assumptions that underpin communication may
enable students to avoid miscommunication in cross-cultural communication. Other project aims
included; enhancing communication between domestic and international students; facilitating
rapid integration of the international students and potentially easing the alienation they
experience and develop this professional skill. The final aim was to heighten international
student’s awareness of the implicit rules that underpin the use of Australian English in University
interaction such as contacting lecturers and asking questions within classes.
Value of grant
This project attracted $600.00 of funding to cover costs of refreshments for the 71students that
attended these workshops. Actual costs were $339, leaving a balance of $261.00
Evidence of benefits
The intended benefits were within core University area of teaching & learning, Students indicated
that the intended aims of this project were achieved, as displayed in Table 1, because they
highlighted they had learned about cultural inclusivity and that these outcomes may not have
occurred without this project.
Evaluation
All students completed a questionnaire and through this, indicated that the workshops were
successful (See appendix 1). The results of this evaluation are displayed in Tables 1 and 2.
Examination of table 1 indicated that about 80% of the students indicated they learned about
ICCS, found the workshop useful and justified them spending the time doing it and it had
facilitated in getting to know other students. Most students (91%) indicated that the workshops
should be repeated with first year students, just as the academic year begins. Most students
indicated that the workshops enabled them to discover things about their peers that they would
not otherwise have discovered. Of the 18 students who indicated they would have made the same
discoveries about their class-mates without this activity, nine qualified their answers, indicating
that they thought they gained the information more quickly.
Students were also given the opportunity to make other comments and of the 24 comments, 23
were positive with comments such as
Awesome! (x3) Thanks (x6). Thumbs up for todays session. I’m glad I had the opportunity to attend; Food
was a great idea; A great activity. A real eye-opener. Well worth the experience; More time for discussion;
Definitely helped as we had to interact as groups; It was a good opportunity to meet domestic students and
know their views; this programme should be conducted for every (new)comer; Great opportunity to listen to
others & see life through their perspective; Great opportunity to mix with fellow students and staff;
Reminded me to be aware of stereotypes that I perceive; Need more of this activity not only for international
students but also for Australian students so everyone will have the same opinion about Australia –other
cultures; other cultures Australia; Very, very useful in facilitating communication between students; It is
excellent to have the workshops like this to communicated with everyone to know each other interests and
different cultures; The workshop helped me a lot to know about the culture and communities of different
students in my class
1
Flinders University: Diversity Initiative Grants
Final Report
Table 1. Outcomes of the workshop to develop intercultural communication skills
Questions
%
Learning about cross cultural communication added to my understanding of 80
communication
Learning about cross cultural communication is important for my university studies
82
It was worth me spending the time attending this workshop
78
This workshop was a useful orientation activity
80
This workshop assisted me getting to know my class mates
80
This workshop accelerated me getting to know my classmates
81
Was there something intriguing about this workshop for you?
81
(Yes)
Would you have made the same discoveries about your class mates without this 86 (No)
activity?
In your opinion, should it be repeated for “first years” next year
91
(Yes)
Key: Questions 1 to 6 were rated according to the following scale Strongly agree 1
Strongly disagree
Table 2. Summary of goals achieved
Goals
Develop some understanding of ICCS
Enhancing communication between domestic and
international students
facilitating rapid integration of the international
students and potentially easing the alienation
2
3
4
5
Achieved/comments

 Also see comments from participants in
Appendix 2
 81% indicated that workshop accelerated
them getting to know their peers (Also see
comments participant 16 to Qtn 10 in
Appendix 2.
This was discussed but difficult to measure
impact
heighten international student’s awareness of the
implicit rules that underpin the use of Australian
English in University interaction
To enhance the ICCS skills of academic and clinical
staff
11 staff attended. Of these 5 staff were
from the Dept of Speech Pathology &
Audiology which is 2/3 of the permanent
staff 1 from biotechnology and 4 from social
work..
2
Appendix 1
Flinders University: Diversity Initiative Grants -evaluation
Questionnaire
About you
1. Student status (Circle relevant one)
 International
a. Which country
 Interstate
a. Which state
 From South Australia
a. Metropolitan
b. Rural urban (ie living in a town like Mt Gambier, Whyalla or Port Lincoln)
c. Rural (ie living in a small town like Laura, Pinnaroo)
d. Rural living on a farm
e. Remote- far north or west of South Australia
2. In your groups of friends from the course to date, indicate their status (Tick as many as
relevant)
 International
o Which country
 Interstate
o Which state
 From South Australia
o Metropolitan
o Rural urban (ie living in a town like Mt Gambier, Whyalla or Port Lincoln)
o Rural (ie living in a small town like Laura, Pinnaroo)
o Rural living on a farm
o Remote- far north or west of South Australia
About this workshop
3. Learning about cross cultural communication in this workshop has added a dimension to my
broader understanding of communication than I had before this workshop
Strongly agree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagree
4. I can see that learning about cross cultural communication is important for my university
studies
Strongly agree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagree
5. Was there something intriguing about this workshop for you?
Yes / No
Other ………………………………………………………
6. It was worth me spending the time attending this workshop
Strongly agree 1
2
3
4
5
7.
This workshop was a useful orientation activity
Strongly agree 1
2
3
4
5
8. This workshop did not assist me getting to know my class mates
Strongly agree 1
2
3
4
5
3
Strongly disagree
Strongly disagree
Strongly disagree
Appendix 1
Flinders University: Diversity Initiative Grants -evaluation
9. This workshop accelerated me getting to know my classmates.
Strongly agree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagree
10. In your opinion, would you have made the same discoveries about your class mates without
this activity
Yes / No
Other ……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
11. In your opinion, should it be repeated for “first years” next year
Yes / No
Why? ……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
About the lecturer
12. The person was effective as a facilitator of this workshop
Strongly agree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagree
13. The lecturer stimulated my interest in the area of cross cultural communication
Strongly agree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagree
14. The lecturer facilitated my understanding of cross cultural communication
Strongly agree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagree
Any other comments
4
Flinders University: Diversity Initiative Grants –evaluation Participants comments
Appendix 2
Appendix 2. The participants’ comments about the intercultural communication workshops
SN
Q. 5
1
Q.10
2
3
4
7
8
How little things can be so
different between cultures
How seemingly very small
details can differ between
cultures
It gave us a deeper understanding of the
assumptions we make when talking to
other people, especially those from
different cultures which will be useful for
us later in our careers
Breaks down assumptions & broadens
minds to other people ideas & cultures
important
Makes you think about the assumptions
you
make
in
everyday
life
&
communication
Awesome!
Awesome!
Awesome! Thanks
Probably after some time
Good information to learnt & great way to
get to know fellow students f
10
May be but much slower
12
May not have got to meet different
people
15
16
Generally interesting
18
19
Other
hopefully
9
17
Q.11
It was a good opportunity to spend
some time with my new class mates
The interaction with the international girl
in our group was extremely valuable & I
doubt if would’ve learned about her
cultural view’s without todays session
unsure
Q7 talk to different people
as well as those you
already know
Good experience reinforcing need for
cultural awareness
It a good opportunity to get to know other
class mates
Biscuits are yummy. The info is relevant to
out professions and most of it is stuff we
don’t focus on and there fore take for
granted
Made me stop & think about issues that
may have gone without thought
Interesting things in the video. Good
chance to talk and share ideas
Learnt a few things about
specific other cultures
5
Thumbs up for today’s
session. I’m glad I had the
opportunity to attend
Flinders University: Diversity Initiative Grants –evaluation Participants comments
Appendix 2
20
Analysing everything
But it would have taken more time this
promoted communication
21
22
23
Great get to know you,... more confidence
to talk to the groups
Made me more area of the culturally
diverse patients I’ll inevitably work with as
.....Was also great to get to know the
people in my group too
It gives students an opportunity to meet
others students and gives an insight into
how you should communicated with others
who may be different to you
It
will
help
with
intercultural
communications
25
27
28
29
Realising
how
easily
misunderstandings
can
occur due to cultural
differences
We often do not stop to talk to
international students as we get so
bogged down with our own busy
schedules
30
It gives good opportunity to meet
international and domestic students & to
get aware of many aspects regarding
study in Univ & stay in Adelaide
Good way of meeting class mates
Coz it gets the students to know each
other in better way
31
32
33
34
35
To get to know people & broaden
perspectives
It is a good cross linking experience
A wonderful opportunity to get to know
others & appreciate different perspectives
International
cultures
other than Australia
Raised awareness
I would have spoken limited than what I
did
Different cultures, different tradition but
for the same goal
Eventually but a far longer time frame
To male a better place for the international
students
Useful
Breaks down barriers, assists with level of
comfort at uni
6
Food was a great idea
A great activity. A real eye
opener. Well worth the
experience
More time for discussion
Definitely helped as we had
to interact as groups
It was a good opportunity
to meet domestic students
and know their views
This programme should be
conducted
for
every
(new)comer
Thank you for providing
this opportunity
Flinders University: Diversity Initiative Grants –evaluation Participants comments
Appendix 2
37
Dress codes
cultures
between
Especially for international students the
workshop may help them feel more
comfortable starting uni in a different
country and given them opportunities to
express any difficulties they are having
adjusting
Because it helps students to understand
each other better & faster
It can introduce issues that many
especially people coming from rural
backgrounds may not be aware of
39
40
41
Good ice breaker, some interesting
issues raised
It helps get the communication going
between the members of the class
There are other things I consider more
important at this stage such as
organising text books etc
Can be a real eye opener
42
43
44
Hearing international
students
views
on
Australian cultures
Made me think about
how
words
and
actions
can
be
offensive to others
because of cultural
beliefs
47
48
Some things yes; other things no
49
The PBL session will anyhow
generating lot of opportunities to
communicate with each other
50
52
Meeting new people
both international and
other Australians
Eventually
may be one session only
Should have more time not just for 23 hours. Should involve a larger group
May be not so long. Just mingling with
the students was what was beneficial
not the activities
Perhaps an optional extra
7
Flinders University: Diversity Initiative Grants –evaluation Participants comments
Appendix 2
53
54
It
was
another
enlightening
experience of many
Probably Eventually would
gotten to know them anyhow
May be not
have
55
56
But at a slower pace
57
Learning frustrations of international
students
58
59
Made
me
look
critically at my own
culture
Great to hear other
peoples perspectives
Because we are in lots of classes
together I have already gotten to
know my fellow students
If there a lot of international students
then it would be appropriate
ABSOLUTELY. Assist crossing the
cultural barriers and gives greater
“permission”
to
explore
and
understand each other in a “real”
manner
Good, fun “getting to know”exercise
To acknowledge diversity of culture
and how to interact and have
awareness of
Opens lots of doors for communication
and comparison
Fosters critical thinking about self and
others
But try and do it earlier
60
61
Students will benefit as we do
Before staring the semester
62
In a short time it covered a lot of
important topics concerning cross
cultural communication. Talking in
groups was good
8
Thanks
Thanks for the lunch
Thanks
Great opportunity to
listen to others & see life
through
their
perspective
This
workshop
is
required
for
international
students
before starting. After
passing 5 weeks it is not
much important. But still
it was helpful for me
Flinders University: Diversity Initiative Grants –evaluation Participants comments
Appendix 2
63
Learnt about other
cultures I was not
aware of- want to find
out more
Opportunity for discussion amongst
class mates that may not happen in
other tuts
64
65
Enhanced the skill of communicating
with other cultures but in Australian
style would be better
66
It definitely makes a deal of difference
in the thinking process we get to know
each other
out of a class room
environment
Helps them to interact better with
their international student class mates
Probably but very it is useful that we
made todays connections today
67
68
The topic in itself e
69
Comments of
participants
other
Great opportunity to mix
with fellow students and
staff. Reminded me to
be aware of stereotypes
that I perceive
Video
was
concisely
explaining the points
about
cultural
differences. This topic Is
very
diverse
and
interesting. Always you
discover something new.
Thank you
Need
more
of
this
activity not only for
international
students
but also for Australian
students so everyone
will have the same
opinion about Australia
–other cultures; other
cultures Australia
The entire session was
enlightening
and
enjoyable. Thank you
Please repeat this to
first year students
Very very useful in
facilitating
communication between
students
Not in the same way
70
It is excellent to have
the workshops like this
9
Appendix 2
71
Flinders University: Diversity Initiative Grants –evaluation Participants comments
It will help the students to know each
others cultures and communities
10
to communicate with
everyone to know each
other
interests
and
different cultures
The workshop helped
me a lot to know about
the
culture
and
communities of different
students in my class