Intercultural Skills’ Assessment

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

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

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

4. 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?

5. 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?

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 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?

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. Culture is:

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

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

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

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

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

16. Cultural bias is the tendency of people to judge the outside world through a narrow view based on their own culture.

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

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. A stereotype is a form of bias.

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

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

22. In your class, there is a foreign student who, although he/she is sociable in general, never looks the professor in the eyes when talking to him/her. What do you most probably think?

23. Empathic communication is a powerful tool to solve interpersonal conflicts and establish deep connections.

24. What do you think empathic listening means?

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

26. How would you define empathy?

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

28. In your country, a person who does not speak your language asks you a question. How do you react?

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

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

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. Before, during, or after visiting a foreign country, are you interested in learning about its culture?

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. 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?

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

36. During a friendly discussion, a foreign friend says something that seems insulting to you. How do you react?

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

38. Do you think that an open person is, consequently, a flexible person?

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