Intercultural Skills’ Assessment

1. At your university, can you observe a growing cultural diversity?

2. When you are on university grounds, do you regularly hear different languages being spoken?

3. Age, gender, and nationality are essential characteristics of a person.

4. How would you evaluate yourself on curiosity on a 1-5 scale, where 1 means very weak, 2 weak, 3 neither weak nor strong, 4 strong, and 5 very strong?

5. How would you evaluate yourself on openness on a 1-5 scale, where 1 means very weak, 2 weak, 3 neither weak nor strong, 4 strong, and 5 very strong?

6. How would you evaluate yourself on verbal and non-verbal communication on a 1-5 scale, where 1 means very weak, 2 weak, 3 neither weak nor strong, 4 strong, and 5 very strong?

7. How would you evaluate yourself on cultural self-awareness on a 1-5 scale, where 1 means very weak, 2 weak, 3 neither weak nor strong, 4 strong, and 5 very strong?

8. How would you evaluate yourself on knowledge of cultural worldview frameworks on a 1-5 scale, where 1 means very weak, 2 weak, 3 neither weak nor strong, 4 strong, and 5 very strong?

9. How would you evaluate yourself on empathy on a 1-5 scale, where 1 means very weak, 2 weak, 3 neither weak nor strong, 4 strong, and 5 very strong?

10. The national culture of my country defines my country and makes it better than others.

11. Cultural differences can also be observed between different generations.

12. There are different cultural identities in the different regions of my country.

13. Culture is:

14. Culture is given from one generation to the other and stays the same.

15. I believe that nobody tasting my country's cuisine could dislike any of our traditional dishes.

16. Cultural bias is different from racism in that it targets cultural differences rather than anthropological characteristics like skin color.

17. Can you explain your personal values to people who are culturally different from you?

18. Which of the following could describe culture?: A. Learned and dynamic; B. Static and unaffected; C. Shared and integrated; D. Based on symbols and inseparable from language.

19. It is important to suspend judgments vis-à-vis different values and customs, and to consider multiple meanings.

20. A stereotype is a form of bias.

21. When stereotypes come up during a discussion, what do you usually do?

22. Do you think that the number of times people kiss when meeting each other may differ from country to country?

23. The more one is positively exposed to people from different cultures, the lower his/her cultural empathy.

24. Do you think that empathy and sympathy are synonyms?

25. To be able to empathise with someone else’s feelings is more often a strength than a weakness.

26. What do you think empathic listening means?

27. Do you think that linguistic competences could support you with your communication skills?

28. Communication is crucial in order to foster positive intercultural relations.

29. While working with a group of foreign students, do you pay attention to body language and gestures?

30. I look for opportunities to talk in foreign languages, even though I may make mistakes.

31. You have just arrived in a foreign country for a year of studying abroad. A local classmate invites you for dinner to his/her parents' house, where many things (the welcoming, manners, the food, etc.) will be new for you. How do you feel?

32. During a vacation in Mexico, you come across the parade of the Day of Deads (Dia de los Muertos). For the first time, you witness a different way to remember those who have passed, which replaces mourning with celebrations. How would you react?

33. During a festive event, a group of foreign students encourages you and your colleagues to participate in one of their traditional dances. How would you react?

34. When you are abroad, do you like to engage in a conversation with locals?

35. Do you define yourself as an open-minded person?

36. A culturally open individual judges other people.

37. A culturally open individual does not assume, but questions.

38. How would you react if, during a working experience abroad, you are asked to adapt your schedule, personal and working routine, to local habits?

39. The less culturally empathetic and culturally open an individual is, the less xenophobic that individual may become.