Training across cultures: What intercultural trainers bring to diversity training

Abstract

The field of diversity training, being relatively new, can be enhanced by using some of the concepts and methods put into practice for many years by intercultural trainers. Distinguishing between diversity and intercultural training is not always easy. Currently, the two types of training differ more in terms of their goals than in other ways. Intercultural trainers offer four main components to their diversity counterparts: culture, behavior, perception, and communication. This article expands upon these components, defining them, describing the rationale for their inclusion in diversity training, and suggesting specific training methods that diversity trainers could use when incorporating these concepts into their training sessions or that intercultural trainers could use when conducting diversity training.