Relocation seminar 2011

by: Georgi Stankov

What: A seminar for relocation of eight Bulgarian students to Great Britain. This was the first ever intercultural seminar in Haskovo area.

Where: Youth center - Haskovo.

When: 28th August, 2011, Sunday. 

Who: Georgi Stankov, voluntary trainer at The Garden Association.

How: The methodology was based on the interactive teaching. It included theory, practice, multimedia presentation, energizer games, and discussion. 

Goals: 

1. To introduce the participants to theoretical knowledge about the concept "culture", the specifics of the cultures, the intercultural differences, and the cultural shock. 

2. To develop practical skills for effective communication in intercultural environment and for adaptation to a foreign culture. 

3. To combine theory and practice, in which every participant prepare their own Individual plan for the first three months abroad.

Results: 

Positive results on every goal. Indicators:
1. The enthusiastic feedback of the participants.
2. The desire of the participants during the preparation of Individual plans.

Future directions: 

1. Online monitoring on the implementation of the Individual plan for the first three months after the relocation to GB. 

2. Second group session in three months (all participants will come back for Christmas holidays) for further development of the intercultural skills and knowledge. 

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The seminar was completely designed by me, which is a reason for pride :)

If you got bored of too much reading, this intercultural sketch will make you laugh:

Catherine Tate - The Interpreter 

IPC - a temple of the Life-long learning values

by: Georgi Stankov

This is my tribute to the International People's College.

International People's College is a worldwide respected institution for non-formal education for adults. IPC is based in the lovely Danish city of Helsingor, known as Elsinore from Shakespeare's "Hamlet".

IPC was founded in 1921, after the World War I, when many progressive people advocated for peace and international collaboration. IPC promotes intercultural understanding and cooperation between the peoples from around the world. At IPC you can meet Africans, Europeans, Asians, Americans, and even Australians. The overall idea of IPC is that this unique meeting of people with different cultural and social backgrounds will create peace, tolerance, and friendship. 

"Global week 2011"

"At a Crossroads"

About 200 students study at IPC every year. There are two terms: Spring term and Autumn term. During the summer the teachers are free to travel, to rest or to make research. IPC management uses the campus and the teaching rooms to organize short summer courses. This summer I attended two workshops: "At a crossroads" and "Art and Science Have Date in Nature". Each workshop took a week. The trainers, the atmosphere, the participants, and the food were  fantastic!

"At a crossroads" was held from the 26th of June until the  2nd of July. Topics included: past and values study, decision-making, teamwork, conflict resolution. From my prefessional perspective, it was a very useful course.

"Art and Science Have Date in Nature" was held between the 3rd of July and the 7th of July. This workshop was part of a bigger event called "Global week 2011", which included several parallel workshops in the same time. In difference with "At a Crossroads", this wasn't a psychological workshop. I took it for my pleasure because I wanted to learn more about the connection between art and science (especially math).

Also I had the chance to establish relations with Lucie Cizkova, who is in charge with PR and Networking at IPC, as well with the IPC's principal Søren Launbjerg. I could see how highly functional as institution is IPC and how the personal growth of the students is set in the heart of the college's study program and teaching methods. See what subjects the students have right to choose: Global challenges line, US studies, African studies, European culture, Development management line, Journalism, Photography, Drama, Art & Video, Body, Mind and Spirit, Self-Expression through Arts, and many other... It is true that I am a longtime supporter of the LLL and everything related to non-formal education, also it is true that my own courses are totally under the philosophy of LLL, but in a matter of fact I didn't know how exactly it works on an organizational level. Now I know more.

The group from the workshop "Art and Science Have date in Nature"

And now... Now I have a dream - to apply the Life-long Learning concept in Bulgaria. To go beyond what the formal educational institutions give. To support the growth of more creative, spontaneous, open-minded, free, and tolerant persons in our own society. I wish to see Bulgarians more happy, more optimistic, more curious, and able to think big. Here I see the role of The Garden Association as institution, dedicated to the non-formal education. In my bravest dreams I see The Garden as the Bulgarian equivalent of IPC. Well, you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...

Georgi Stankov had been in course for intercultural trainers

by: Georgi Stankov

I have just came back from the training "Developing Intercultural Training Skills", organized by LTS Training and Consulting. The course took place at Bath Spa, UK, between 14th and 18th of March 2011.

From left to right: Justin Bangowa, Kate Byron, Paramsothy Thamotharampillai, Karin Navermyr, Georgi Stankov,
Anna Tarnowska - Waszak, and Adrian Pilbeam

Who's who in this international group? Here they are:

Justin Bangowa (The Netherlands) is аn Intercultural communication student. Also he is intern at LTS. His parents have different origins (Indonesian father and Dutch mother), but Justin is 100% product of the Dutch culture. 

Kate Byron (United Kingdom/Eire) had studied International development at Bristol. Now she works for a large Irish NGO - Comhlamh, - who sends volunteers for humanitarian missions in Africa.

Paramsothy Thamotharampillai (Malaysia/Germany) is also know as Param. He works for Mercedes Benz and trains the sellers from Eastern Europe how to sell the company's products. 

Karin Navermyr (Sweden) teaches Swedish for foreigners, who relocate in Sweden. She also knows Old-Icelandic and Russian.

Anna Tarnowska - Waszak (Poland) is a teacher of English in John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.

Adrian Pilbeam (United Kingdom) is owner and head trainer of LTS Training and Consulting. It was the 34th course edition! He is an intercultural erudite and a nice person. I liked both his professional and personal approach.

"Developing Intercultural Training Skills" is a sort of trainer training course. It was very useful for me as a way to upgrade what I have learned at the university and then through consequent self-education. I was familiar with Hofstede's theory about intercultural differences, but I needed to integrate this knowledge into practical work on terrain.

Now I feel much more confident in the design and implementation of a training of a group whose members have various cultural background and identity. The training included many useful exercises, games, and case studies. Since I am developing as intercultural consultant, I find it was valuable to refresh my skills and approach. As a voluntary trainer of The Garden Association I plan to work intensively in the field of the skills for intercultural communication .