James Madison University

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Sessions

Every year we rely on volunteers to provide informative sessions on topics pertinent to the ISLC participants. We would love to have many presenters from different schools.

Sessions are encoured in areas such as cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution techniques, leadership styles, diversity training, employment resources for international students, information about historical leaders, or other areas of interest to international students. Please complete the online Session Proposal Form. In order to assist you in thinking about the types of programs you might offer, we encourage you to consider the following broad categories: Wellness, Skills and Knowledge Improvement, Identity, Communication.

2011 Workshops

SESSION I: 1:45 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Rising Before Falling: The Leader’s Rollercoaster	In any work setting one is bound to experience ups and downs. In this session participants will have the opportunity to learn methods which will help establish a solid team set for which ever direction the rollercoaster may run. Hold on tight!
Breaking Barriers	Come to share and to hear how American and International students sought to break the ice and create a friendly and welcoming environment at work, school and everyday life. Discover how curiosity is the ultimate weapon to innovation, creativity and partnership. This panel will help you explore what links us all and how our differences unite us.
Culture, Communication, and Conflict	This interactive workshop will explore cultural beliefs, values and dynamics around communication and conflict that are implicitly present in intercultural interactions. Participants will examine how different cultural beliefs, behaviors, and interpersonal/intragroup interactions affect the occurrence of conflict as well as possibly provide opportunities for conflict resolution and transformation.
The Employment Visa Minefield: Life After F-1	If you are graduating soon and want to know how you may be able to stay in the U.S. to work, this is the session for you! Come ready to ask any questions you ever had regarding “H-1B’s” and other work visas and green cards.
Culture-Influenced Management & Leadership Styles	Want to explore different management and leadership styles in the work environment? Want to discover what leadership qualities and principles are seen as universal? Come to our interactive workshop to explore different leadership styles and the dynamics they create.
Secrets to Effective Presentations	This session offers insider information about strategies and skills that will help you make effective presentations in your classes, in the workplace, and beyond.
Practical Ways to Internationalize your Campus	Inter-cultural tools have the potential to support and challenge students to cross borders mentally, physically and socially. This is a practical session in which faculty and staff will discuss effective ways to internationalize your campus. Additionally Arnd will introduce practical examples of on campus events and short term travel programs that are organized by Crossing Borders Education (www.cb-education.org).

SESSION II: 3:15 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.

Making our vision and aspirations reality	Discover the innovative ways on how education and mentorship can help to solve some major issues in many developing countries.
Good communication for successful interactions	We have all been groomed to go for that job or ace that interview, yet we often do things that cut our goals short. This interactive session will encourage personal introspection and identification of our personal communication quirks, giving us insight into how we want to be known.
Resume Writing: Articulating Leadership Experience on Paper	Are you ready to search for an internship or job? One of the first steps to a successful search is creating a strong resume. This session will help you learn how to convey and highlight your leadership experience on your resume!
Assertiveness & harmony in interpersonal relationships	This is an assertive training workshop that aims at promoting balanced and healthy interactions between people. It addresses the cultural significance of assertiveness, difficulties of being assertive among different cultural groups, and how such difficulties can be overcome to achieve better interpersonal relationships.
Lead with courage: Engage and Integrate	This presentation will increase the awareness of leaders’ courage to engage, relationship building, the art of communication, and problem solving. The lack of courage to lead and engage will eventually lead to disaster. Proactively addressing these life’s obstacles paves the way for one’s wellbeing and a better community. Come, experience and learn.
Cultural Adjustment	This session will provide insight concerning an issue that affects every international traveler at some point in his/her journey. You may come to this session because you want to learn additional tools to deal with your own cultural adjustment issues. Or you might want to learn how to better equip members of your team/club/organization regarding cultural issues they may be facing. Whatever your interest, this session will be sure to give you a broader understanding of how to best manage the cultural adjustment issues you are sure to face in your lifetime.
International Student Advisors Roundtable Discussion	A special session for international student advisors to openly discuss issues such as: sharing your best pratices and your failed attempts. How do you include non-visa holders in your programs and events and how do you assess your programs as well as trends and concerns on your campus?