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Cultural sensitivity and
intercultural communication skills
for doing business in
CI-CD outline for
2-day training workshop for UKTI clients, October 12 and 14, 2004
Methods are participative
and informal, with interactive use of materials; role-play and small group
exercises with report-back; practice in making presentations and conducting
meetings.]
Participants are supplied
with a 45-page briefing Handbook:
‘Doing Business in
The CI-CD trainers for UKTI’s ‘Trading in
John Twitchin (Director,
Centre for Intercultural Development)
Wiesiek Powaga (based in
Bozena Burda (Specialist
Polish language teacher)
DAY 1. Cultural awareness for Poland
1. The aims of course; Introductions of
participants. Introductions again - in Polish style!
2. Review of existing experience/knowledge of
§
about Economy?
Product or Service sector? Trade Fairs? UKTI reports?
§
about history
and culture?
§
about ways of
making presentations and/or style of discussing projects?
3. Language:
§
Is your business
equipped with translation facilities? Has it an in-house language audit/policy
for bi-lingual staff?
4. Impressions/expectations of Polish people,
and especially Polish businesspeople?
5. Input briefings by Wiesiek Powaga on:
§
The critical
importance of history in Polish national self-image; episodes Poles
appreciate you knowing about
§
Regional
differences: the variety of background origins within
§
Overview of
recent developments in
§
Social
behaviours: dress, manners, men/women courtesies, meals, etc
6. Input Briefings by John Twitchin for
building relationship, rapport, mutual confidence:
§
Business
thinking and behaviours in
§
The importance
of names: practice in how to pronounce and use Polish names well
§
The linguistic
effects of mother-tongue Polish on Poles’ speaking style in English
§
Body Language:
different signals
§
Making
Introductions: degrees of formality, use of titles, politeness, + Leaving
§
The question of
Small Talk – How much “lead-in” before getting to real agenda/task?
7. Resources: Air travel discounts; phrase
books; Polish Press materials; Embassy support.
8. Specialist illustrated lecture on how
advertising differs in
9. [Evening work:]
A. articles from Polish
business press in Handbook Module 5
B. prepare a 10 mins
presentation as for a Polish Trade Fair.
DAY 2. Introduction to the language, and to
practising cultural sensitivity and communication skills for trading success in
1. Why respect for, and some familiarity with,
the language is crucial, eg
§
The
alphabet/sounds.
§
Practice of
sounds of the numerals, and list of common Polish names.
§
Phrases for
introducing self and others at start of meetings
§
Handouts for
continuing DIY practice in Polish
2. What makes speaking English difficult for
Poles: key differences in grammar
3. Ways of speaking that are most helpful to
Poles using English as their 2nd or 3rd Language
4. Review of key points from the business
articles in Handbook Module 5 (group discussion)
5. Practice of practical communication skills
set out in Handbook Module 6
6. Practice in making a Marketing Presentation
to a Polish audience + constructive de-brief.
7. Role-plays: Introducing colleagues;
Conducting meetings in a Polish context.
8. How best to make a case in Polish style,
and/or to argue a point of difference (pairs exercise).
9. Action plans; Questions.
10. Evaluations – verbal and written response
sheets.
Copyright: CI-CD 2004