Cross Cultural Education

SYLLABUS
Application of Cross Cultural Concepts to Soldiers
Officer/ NOC Professional Development

DTG:

Coordinator COL Ellen M Shannon-Ball 430-1915 Ellen.m.shannonball.mil

Instructors SSG Elpidio Boado 430-3622 Elpidio.v.Boado.mil

MSG Penales-Burton 430-2985 Natalie.d.Penalesburton.mil

CPT Jason Bauman 430-7685 Jason.j.Baumann.mil

Course Description:
The emphasis of this course is the application of cultural awareness of Soldiers within the armed forces and individuals
who receive their support. Officers and NCOs explore cultural differences from a theoretical basis and apply the concepts
within the scope of their positions. The impact of diversity in daily issues, the cumulative effects of cultural challenges,
and Soldiers cultural experiences during deployment are explored.

Course Learning Outcomes:

1. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
2. Define culture and differentiate between the different elements of culture; beliefs, values, norms, taboos, and
attitudes
3. Discuss barriers to developing cultural awareness.
4. Discuss the importance to understand common cultural differences and the impact on cross cultural encounters.
5. Explain why we should study cultures.
6. Describe Standards of Practice for Cross Cultural Communication.
7. Incorporate principles of observation to empower Soldiers to draw conclusions based on reality not on
preconceptions.
8. Integrate how we interact with host nation medical professionals and their clients and the cultural challenges
impacted by their philosophy of medical care.
9. Demonstrates initiative to seek out new learning opportunities and expand knowledge base establishing a pattern
for lifelong learning
10. Develop personal goals for professional development
11. Employ technology to integrate cross cultural development for subordinates.
12. Provide leadership when collaborating with the multidisciplinary team members, families, and communities.
13. Integrate critical thinking skills in developing, implementing, and evaluating missions with multiple complex
cultural challenges

Resources:

Cross Culture Videos

Purpose: Cross cultural language and concepts are sometimes difficult to initially understand. The two videos provide
another opportunity for Soldiers to learn these concepts.
Process:
1. The Good Lie, 2014- Reese Witherspoon
2. Million Dollar Arm, 2013

Page 1 of 3
Month HR Date Instructor Topic

1 .25 OCT COL S-B Orientation to Culture and professional development expectations
ICE Breaker activity
.50 COL S-B
Discussion about results and Individual difference between Soldiers
.25 COL S-B
Self-Perception/Self Concept
Define your culture/cultural awareness
Online

2 .15 NOV COL S-B

Define traits of communication and impact across different cultures
.20 \ COL S-B

Watch movie “ A Good Lie”

Video/
3 .20 DEC COL S-B Feedback on movie/informal assessment
Role/Relationship Pattern; Societal Roles
SSG Family Response and Family
.20 Boado
.20 MSG P-B Gender Differences
.30 MSG P-B Role/Gender Activity

On-line Define your societal role

SSG
4 .15 JAN Boado Review Roles/Feedback from activity/informal assessment
Non-Verbal Communication
Definition of non-verbal communication –Perceptual differences
.30 COL S-B across cultures

.30 COL S-B

.15 COL S-B Results of activity / observations
Watch movie A Million Dollar Arm
Video
Feedback on Baseball movie:
Group discussion Activity provide questions on cultural
SSG differences/miscommunication
5 .30 FEB Boado
Communication styles-high and low context, distance, and
uncertainty-avoidance
.30 COL S-B
Activity-Communication Patterns: Demonstrate cultural differences
COL S-B
Review medical practices of host nation country
Online
Health Perception/Host Nation Country
Perception from government documents and online inquiries
.30 MAR COL S-B Informal assessment
Cultural competence: Five interrelated constructs : Cultural Desire,
Cultural Awareness, Cultural Knowledge, Cultural Skills and
Cultural Encounter
.30 CPT B
Why study cultural competence? Can we use concepts at home and
.30 CPT B abroad?
Online Review perceptions prior to next lesson – Change your thoughts?
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 Discuss what changes would you make in your approach to medical
7 .30 APR COL S-B clients of differing cultures here in the United states
Group activity: Review Cultural Knowledge and Cultural medical
skills. How would you interact with patient during cultural encounter?
.45
MSG Kibuka explains difference in cultural encounters US –vs-
.30 GUEST Kenya
Develop a plan on how you would interact and treat a client from the
host nation. Identify friction points and constructs to resolve them.

Project
Present Medical Competency plan
8 MAY COL S-B

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