Teaching and Learning about Cultural Diversity through Intergroup Dialogue

1-3 Credits

Engages students, from one or more cultural identity groups, in facilitated dialogue about the similarities and differences of experience that exist within a group and/or between and across groups. The goal of intergroup dialogue is for students to develop comfort with, and skill for, discourse on difficult topics toward the end of fostering positive, meaningful, and sustained cross-group relationships. Whereas in debate, students learn to listen to gain advantage, in intergroup dialogue, students learn to listen to gain understanding. In so doing, students develop increased multicultural interaction facility, heightened intergroup awareness and sensitivity, and greater commitment to civic engagement.