Cross-cultural training for orientation student leaders

Acculturating sojourners such as new international students are faced with a myriad of challenges in psychological and sociocultural adjustments on arrival. These newcomers’ transition to university life can be made easier with social support from not only staff but also other students in their host institutions. However, many local students have only limited understanding of international students’ initial cultural shock in a foreign university, and are unsure about how to help these newcomers. This paper will report the recent implementation and evaluation of a one-day crosscultural training course, presented as an interactive psycho-educational workshop, designed to prepare senior student volunteers for making effective social contact with and helping international students during Orientation Week at the University of Canberra. The Intercultural Social Contact Course aims to increase Orientation Week Leaders’ awareness and knowledge of cultural diversity and intercultural communication, and deepen their understanding of the needs of new culturally diverse students in their transition to university life. The training further encourages the student leaders to reflect on and apply their learning to enhance their own interactions with culturally different others. This paper will include the student leaders’ feedback on the training received and their attitudes towards helping newcomers and working with culturally and diverse people at the end of the Orientation Week.