Intercultural Communication Skills Workshop Series - Session 2: Small Talk & Networking

How do our cultures inform how we communicate, how we learn, and how we teach? New international PhD students navigate communication at Harvard on multiple levels: as students, as scholars, and as future teachers. In this interactive workshop series, we will explore how our cultural values influence our communication in a range of academic and classroom situations. You will have the opportunity to learn, practice, and get feedback on cross-cultural communication skills for Harvard classrooms and beyond, with sessions devoted to academic culture; small talk; participating in classes; listening skills; email etiquette; and giving and receiving feedback. This series is designed for new PhD students who did their undergraduate education outside of the US, but is open to any new PhD students interested in developing intercultural competence and practicing communication skills. Students are welcome to register and attend any or all sessions.

Session 2: Small Talk & Networking 

Small talk is shaped by our cultural backgrounds and personal experiences, but how does it work?  How can you engage in small talk around campus or while networking? We will look at strategies to participate in small talk and to build relationships in academic and professional settings.