This resource, developed within the Pestalozzi Programme, is dedicated to intercultural competences - knowledge, attitude and skills needed to interact positively in diverse contexts. The activities invite practitioners to reflect on their own practices, reassess their assumptions and practices and build intervention clues towards intercultural communication and understanding.  After self-examination, participants discuss practices and guidelines towards achieving an intercultural pedagogy/school, and identify strategies to achieve the underlying goals (critical awareness, negotiation and co-operative capacity). Thus relating the gained knowledge with opportunities for action.

Other activities focus on critical incidents arising in intercultural contacts. The participants are asked to discuss situations of miscommunication or misunderstanding and identify competences needed to deal with such conflicts in a constructive way. After a simulation and role-play in small groups, a model to manage the situation is proposed and discussed.

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To cite this resource: Cassis, F. (2012). What are the cultural competences?. In Council of Europe Pestalozzi Programme Training Units.