ABSTRACT
Intercultural competence is very important for making intercultural connections and friendships. Knowing about the norms and behaviours that are appropriate in other cultures, being open towards them and having the skills to navigate these situations can help to make intercultural friends. The Intercultural Positioning System is a way to develop intercultural competence by focusing on what motivates us, increasing the knowledge we need for intercultural interactions, making sure we are adequately challenged – neither too much nor too little – and that we develop the skills that enable us to interact effectively and appropriately. This chapter contains individual exercises to help us develop open-mindedness, a growth mindset and intercultural knowledge, and emphasises how getting out of one’s comfort zone is crucial for learning. It also helps to develop skills such as developing and maintaining relationships with others, cultural empathy, active listening, coping with uncertainty and ambiguity, flexibility and dealing with the stress that often accompanies interactions with people from other cultural backgrounds.
