From Honeymoon to Humanitarian Mission: Communicating Across Cultures

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  CTE-BUS.912.8215120.2.2 -

  Communicate in a multicultural setting (e.g., with people from varying international, cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds).
  
  

  CTE-BUS.912.8215120.2.5 -

  Function as a team member and participate in group discussions to identify and resolve problems.
  
  

  CTE-BUS.912.8215120.2.6 -

  Identify how team’s effectiveness impacts company’s profitability.

• Unit Outline

  
  

  Using the case study, "From Honeymoon to Humanitarian Mission," students will explore the challenges faced by a non-profit, Kids of Kathmandu (KOK), from Nepal, focusing on their efforts to support an orphanage in Nepal. It addresses issues of cultural barriers, and the importance of communication when working internationally, highlighting the critical role of their first hire, Mr. Dahal, in overcoming these obstacles.

• Career Connection

  
  

  This lesson integrates career connections and soft skills such as cultural sensitivity and effective communication. These skills are crucial for careers in Business Management and Administration, providing practical insights into managing cultural divides and fostering trust through effective communication.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students will be able to:

  • Analyze the impact and importance of cultural sensitivity and importance of effective communication in international business management.
  • Present information about innovative ways to address cultural sensitivity in communication.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  For this lesson, it will be beneficial if students are aware of the importance of cultural sensitivity and communication skills in a global business environment. Students with the basic skills of oral presentations would be beneficial.
  
  Also check, www.kidsofkathmandu.org

• Guiding Questions

  
  
  • What approaches can be used to improve communication and gain trust when starting a new job?
  • What does "non-profit" mean, and how does a non-profit organization differ from a for-profit business in terms of goals and operations?

• Procedure

  
  

  Introduction:

  The facilitator will invite several students to share their responses to the guiding question. After hearing their answers, the facilitator will open the floor for others to agree, disagree, or offer additional thoughts about the question or their peers' responses.

  
  To introduce and engage students with the case study, Facilitator will start by setting the scene with a brief overview of the non-profit organization, Kids of Kathmandu (KOK), and its mission. This will be followed by an interactive activity where students are asked to brainstorm potential challenges they might face when working in a different cultural context, particularly in a non-profit setting.

  Discussion/comprehension questions.

  1. What are cultural barriers, and why are they significant in business?
  2. How can effective communication impact a business’s success, especially in a multi-cultural environment.
  3. Reflecting on Mr. Dahal’s situation, what challenges does he face regarding cultural barriers and communication.
     
     

  Student-centered and integrated activity
  Please refer to attached worksheet for reference.
  
  Group Formation and Discussion

  - Divide students into groups of 4-5 members.

  - Assign groups to discuss the significance of cultural barriers and the importance of effective communication from Mr. Dahal's perspective.

  Task for Each Group

  - Identify at least three actions Mr. Dahal should undertake.

  Action Plan Development

  Action 1:

  Description:

  Expected Outcome:
  Repeat for other 2 action paln.

  Group Presentations

  - After discussions, each group presents their proposed actions to the class.

  - Facilitator and groups will note proposed action and identify common actions across groups.

  - If a common action is identified, explore why it was selected by multiple groups.

  - If no common action is found, guide students towards consensus on at least one common action the class supports.

  Connection to Business and Entrepreneurship

  - Connect the agreed-upon action back to principles of Business and Entrepreneurship for practical application discussion.

  
  
  

  To bring the lesson to a close:

  Review and Discussion

  - Begin the lesson closure by reviewing the guided question and the insights gained from the case study and group activities.

  - Facilitate a whole group discussion to allow students to share their reflections and the actions proposed during group activities.

  Connecting to Course Benchmarks

  - Highlight how the benchmarks in Business Management and Administration related to cultural sensitivity, effective communication, and strategic problem-solving were addressed through the activities.

  Demonstrating Real-World Relevance

  - Discuss with students how the skills and knowledge gained from this lesson apply to real-world challenges in business management and administration.

  - Emphasize the importance of adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and effective communication in professional settings.

  Reflection Instructions:

  - Instruct students to respond to the reflection questions in their final papers:

  1. Reflect on a situation where cultural sensitivity could impact your decision-making process in a professional setting. How would you approach this?
  2. Considering the challenges faced by Kids of Kathmandu, how important do you think strategic problem-solving via effective communication will be in your future work? Can you think of a scenario where these skills would be critical?

  - Encourage students to provide detailed responses that reflect their understanding and application of the lesson's principles to potential real-life scenarios.

  Reinforcing Learning and Relevance

  - Conclude the lesson by reinforcing the importance of the skills and knowledge gained, and their applicability in navigating complex cultural contexts and enhancing communication in any future professional setting.

• Teacher Notes

  
  
  • While forming groups, try to mix students from different countries, culture and race.
  • Reflection papers can be assigned for homework outside of class or can be completed during another class period.