Do you work with professionals from another culture in your department? Are you planning to travel overseas for business or work-related experience? Are you planning to host persons from another culture? Do you have difficulty communicating with individuals whose first language is not English?
If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then the ELP's Cross-cultural Training Seminars are here to help. These seminars are designed to familiarize you with the principles and theories behind successful cross-cultural communication.
The ELP offers a wide array of cross-cultural communication training seminars:
Cultural Overview:
- Cross-cultural Communication 101
Specific Cultures and Countries:
- Cultural Etiquette: Focus on China (Parts 1 and 2)
- Cultural Etiquette: Focus on Japan
- Cultural Etiquette: Focus on India (Parts 1 and 2)
- Cultural Etiquette: Focus on Russia
- Cultural Etiquette: Focus on the Middle East
- Cultural Etiquette: Focus on the U.S. (Parts 1 and 2)*
As a result of these seminars, participants will be able to:
- Acquire a model for understanding the influence of culture on individuals and societies
- Gain strategies for accessing cultural information needed for cross-cultural situations abroad or at home
- Access information on target culture's values which form the basis for behavioral norms in that culture
- Receive hand-outs on cultural tips for various interactions such as greetings, eating, communicating, and working with the target culture
- Receive resources for further study on the target culture
*NOTE: The "Focus on the U. S." seminar is prepared for internationals (non-Americans) to inform them about American workplace culture, values, and expectations.
The ELP also offers seminars which address needs specific to working with international students, including the following:
- Understanding International Students
- Understanding Generational Differences
- Understanding Generation 1.5
For UAB Employees:
You can contact the ELP office at
For non-UAB Persons:
Our cross-cultural communication training is available on a contract-basis. Such training may occur in a seminar or course format for companies or institutions. The ELP has served a variety of central Alabama companies in preparing their American staff to do business abroad, work with persons of a particular culture, prepare for overseas living, and learn about target culture groups with whom the companies wish to do business. For more information on cross-cultural communication training for your organization, please contact the ELP office at