Yi Zhang | PhD Student | Applied Linguistics

What drew you to the intercultural training programme in the first place (as facilitator/as student or both)? / Why was it important to you?

I have a deep interest in fostering understanding and collaboration among people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Before doing my PhD project, I had 14 years’ experience of working in a publisher, participating in and leading many international publishing projects. In my job, I had seen how cultural differences could either enrich interactions or create barriers if not properly understood. I was drawn to the intercultural training programme because it presents an opportunity to help students learn to navigate these complexities through encouraging open-mindedness, empathy, and effective communication. I was also drawn to the programme because of its design. The programme emphasises on creating spaces where individual students can reflect on their assumptions, challenge stereotypes, and develop awareness needed to work effectively in multicultural environments, contributing to students’ personal and professional growth. In the programme, learning is achieved through participatory and experiential activities, providing learning opportunities while enhancing learning experience and promoting real-world application. The programme design strongly appealed to my belief in collaborative learning and learning through doing and experiencing.

How has Warwick’s intercultural training programme helped or supported you (as facilitator/as student or both)?

The intercultural training programme has been immensely valuable in supporting my development as a facilitator. The facilitator team has always been a safe and supportive space for me, in which I have been guided by experienced facilitators and supported to apply my own ideas and thoughts in designing activities and workshops. To deliver intercultural workshops, I have co-facilitated with different facilitators, which has provided me the opportunity to learn from different approaches to facilitation and develop my own facilitation style. The continuous training provided to facilitators has also equipped me with a range of practical tools and strategies for managing diverse groups effectively. I have learned how to give clear instructions, address misunderstandings sensitively, and promote student participation and collaboration. These skills have not only enhanced the quality of my sessions, but also developed my teaching skills and increased my confidence in organising diverse classroom activities.

What was the most memorable or important thing you learned from the intercultural training programme (as facilitator/as student or both)?

One of the most important things I learned from the intercultural training programme as a facilitator was the significance of recognising one’s own cultural values, biases, and assumptions. The workshops not only help students reflect, but also promote my self-reflection. Reflecting on my own cultural values and assumptions helped me see how my own background shapes my perception of situations, interaction with students, and interpretation of student behaviours. By becoming more conscious of this, I am able to remain open, curious, and non-judgemental when delivering workshops and when working with people from diverse cultures.

One particularly memorable moment from the intercultural training programme occurred during the Red and Green statements activity where students were invited to vote either green or red, demonstrating they either agree more or disagree more with statements related to intercultural communication presented to them. The activity began hesitantly, with students called on to share their perspectives and stories. However, as one student enthusiastically shared their past experiences of miscommunication to back up their vote, others began to open up, sharing their own stories to support not only their own votes, but also each other’s perspectives towards the statement. After several rounds of sharing, the room burst into applause for students themselves. As a facilitator, I found this moment powerful because it demonstrated the transformative potential of sharing. What started as a simple activity evolved into genuine connection and authentic learning.

Why should other students get involved with the programme (as facilitator/as student or both)?

I would encourage students to take part in the intercultural training programme because it offers a truly transformative learning experience. It provides a unique opportunity to engage with people from diverse backgrounds, broaden one’s worldview, and develop the confidence to navigate cultural differences with understanding and respect. I would also encourage students to get involved as facilitators as it helps us grow personally and professionally. It challenges us to create inclusive spaces, listening actively, managing group dynamics, and handling sensitive topics with care. The strong sense of community the programme offers facilitators also provides us a great opportunity of growing together with like-minded individuals who are passionate about intercultural communication.