I am new to training. I was recently asked to take on our Diversity training portion of our orientation program. This program is only about 35-40 minutes and 25 minutes of it is a DVD. I am interested  in doing a good overview of diversity with limited time.  Currently I talk about my own experiences with diversity and ask the group for any they would like to share. Anyone else currently conducting diversity training? Does anyone have any any suggestions for my 15 minutes?

Here is a link to some great information on Diversity: http://hrweb.berkeley.edu/guide/diversity.htm

While I was a trainer for the local Girl Scout council I used some of there info.  From my experience since your group will be spending most of it's time watching a DVD find a way to have a break at a good discussion point during the dvd, or activity at the end to wrap up what was to be the top points learned.  I don't know if a cultural scavenger hunt would be appropriate or a sheet with diversity definitions  for example Gender means 1) the last line you draw on the letter G 2)Relates to biological anatomy. In our Society it is closely connected to "appropriate" behavior  3) a female gander.  Depending on your type of business these "games" may be fround upon but when I have used them they have gotten the point across nicely.  Hope that helps!

Industry Press Releases

Book Highlights 72 Countries to Help Bridge Cultural Gaps

Clearwater Beach, Fla. — June 12

In today's "melting pot" society, it is not at all unusual to work or socialize with persons who hail from foreign countries and whose cultures differ from yours. While these cultural differences can make for a great learning experience, they can also lead to embarrassment and discomfort when there is a lack of knowledge regarding important cultural patterns, behaviors, perceptions, actions and expectations.

Working to effectively bridge this cultural gap is the new book from Byron P. Palls, Ph.D., Cultural Portraits: A Synoptic Guide.



"Would you know that Chang Wu Jang's last name is Chang not Jang?" asked Palls. "Or that handing something to an Arab with your left hand is an insult? Or that, at birth, a Chinese person is 1 year old? In this book, you'll find brief, succinct information which will compose for you the cultural portrait of any one of the 72 countries included in this study."



This information includes a map, caveats, educational systems, recording foreign names, forms of address, gender relations, diets, long and short dates, writing numbers, body language, punctuality, evaluation transcripts, national traits and much more, all laid out neatly in a two-page spread for each country.



Written for everyone from teachers, international student advisers and registrars to corporate executives, immigration attorneys, social workers, police officers and world travelers, Cultural Portraits answers many questions and empowers readers not only with information about cultural practices, but with explanations about terms that are thrown around daily but rarely defined, such as "jihad" and "Sunni."



According to Palls, there is something for everyone in Cultural Portraits to "help you meet the needs of a foreign person without offending their sensibilities and sparing yourself embarrassment. Cultural Portraits is a valuable resource for resolving challenging issues and addressing cultural questions to help you do your job better and with renewed confidence, while fostering understanding for one another in today's complex world."



Byron P. Palls, Ph.D., was born in Greece and immigrated to the United States as a WWII victim soon after completing his secondary education in Athens. He volunteered for service in the U.S. Army and spent his tour of duty in Italy that served as a base for his extensive travel throughout Europe.

 

In the U.S., Palls earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Spanish and French and a Ph.D. in Spanish literature.

 

For more information, visit http://www.culturalsketches.com.

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Lectures are boring....I'd suggest doing a diversity activity such as the Jelly Bean - Personality Test, the Candy Bar Analysis, or my all time favorite...the Cultural Scavenger Hunt. They are short and fun activities and can be accomplished in 10 minutes or less.

When looking at diversity or sensitivity training, take at look at multiculturalism.  Multiculturalism focuses on other's world views and cultures by learning to be open minded and non-biased.  A wonderful ideology to learn and teach for diversity training.