In this workshop, Professor Peter Gardner will focus on cultural differences in verbal communication styles (what people say, how they say it, and what they mean when they say it) and the potential for intercultural tension and misunderstanding. He will also consider such topics as intercultural education, culture shock, and cultural adjustment. Participants will come away with a better understanding of their own culturally-influeced speaking styles and those of people around the globe. This will help develop participants' intercultural communication skills and their ability to live and work in a multicultural environment in the U.S. or abroad.
Peter Gardner is a professor in the Liberal Arts Department at Berklee College of Music, where he teaches courses in intercultural communication, world literature, and film, and directs the English as a Second Language Program. He has lectured and held workshops for students and teachers in intercultural communication and English for speakers of other languages throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Professor Gardner is the author of New Directions: Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking, a popular textbook used in over 20 countries. His special areas of interest are cultural differences in verbal and nonverbal communication styles, as well as educational theory and practice.
