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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

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Crossing Cultures: An Introduction to Cross-Cultural Understanding

Developed by Darla Deardorff

This course is part of LEARN NC's catalog of online courses for teachers. Please see the current offerings at the bottom of this page for information about when it may next be taught.

About this course

  • Audience: teachers

Disability Statement

If you have a learning or other disability and you want to request special accommodations to ensure equal access to education through LEARN NC, then please contact your instructor. The information that you provide will be kept confidential.

Teach this course

This course is available to the public schools of North Carolina and may be offered locally or statewide. Learn more

Crossing Cultures is designed to help teachers improve their effectiveness in interacting with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Utilizing intercultural theories, including a cultural value framework, learners will gain a greater awareness of their own cultural backgrounds, as well as acquire tools to interact appropriately and effectively with people from a variety of cultures.

Learners will learn from each other, as well as participate in several intercultural interactions with others outside of this course. Crossing Cultures culminates in a culture-specific presentation from each learner that will synthesize what is covered in the course.

This course will help you demonstrate awareness of the diversity of students in the classroom. The course will also help you encourage and value student contributions regardless of their background or ability.

Syllabus

You can view full the course syllabus here.

Audience

This course is ideal for teachers who have students from a variety of cultural backgrounds, those in multicultural work environments, and others desiring to learn how to understand others’ behaviors from a different perspective.

Standards Alignment

This course addresses the following North Carolina teacher standards:

  • Standard II: Teachers establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students
    • b. Teachers embrace diversity in the school community and in the world.
    • c. Teachers treat students as individuals.
  • Standard V: Teachers reflect on their practice

Time Commitment

Approximately 8-10 hours per week

Prerequisites

None

Current offerings

Begins April 21.

This course is open for enrollment. Enroll in this course