During the lockdown, many training sessions were postponed or conducted virtually. There are quite a few program providers who were able to demonstrate the practical side of their applications during this time, such as Zoom or MS Teams.
Virtual intercultural training
Experience has shown that it is possible. A little more difficult, but it works. Some exercises had to be carried out differently, others not at all. It was important that the content could be conveyed and that the employees “condemned” to passivity in the home office could use the time to gain further qualifications. However, these training courses were more intensive and more breaks were necessary. The participants received the materials in advance and were therefore able to prepare themselves. This was useful in that the participants could already formulate questions. However, the content only became clear during the training.
“Live” is Life – intercultural classroom training
After weeks and months, I had the opportunity to conduct intercultural training on-site again – and even abroad, in Switzerland. I benefited from the cautious opening of the German-Swiss border for business matters. Benötigt wurden:
- An ID card
- A permit from the canton, in my case Zurich
You can apply for the permit online and it was processed very quickly.
Intercultural training under the sign of Corona
Of course, not everything was “back to normal”. The intercultural training was carried out with pandemic-compliant restrictions:
- There were 5 people in a large room
- A distance of over 2 m could be maintained without any problems
- Disinfectant for hands and equipment was available
- Group exercises were dispensed with
- The moderator was obliged to wear a mask (because of the speaking part)
Experience
Compared to the virtual training sessions, the traditional feeling quickly returned:
- The group dynamic was considerably higher and better
- The exchange was more spontaneous and direct
- Group discussions were easier
- Communication was made easier by the fact that the participants had a better view of each other – especially when there were several participants, it was sometimes difficult to see everyone because the screen had to be shared
- Technical restrictions no longer apply (e.g. overlays etc.)
- The presentation was more dynamic and easier because you weren’t “tied” to a chair in front of a screen.
Virtual intercultural training – a future after all?
Virtual intercultural training naturally offers a number of advantages:
- No travel expenses
- They can easily be carried out across continents
- The home office environment offers the opportunity to provide all amenities
I count the disadvantages:
- The learning content is better conveyed in “live” training sessions
- The direct exchange of information and discussions can take place more easily and immediately
- The training intensity is lower and the information, which is usually new, is easier to process
Which format is the right one – virtual intercultural training or on-site training?
The clear answer is – both. Both formats offer advantages, although communication is definitely easier with “live” training. When it comes to conveying learning content, these are therefore preferable in my view. However, there are certainly situations in which virtual intercultural training offers various advantages.
It has often been written that virtual formats will become increasingly popular as a result of the coronavirus crisis. If companies are concerned about costs, and this will be the case for many companies now, this format is a good solution. However, there are also good reasons to conduct training on site, which is what our customer in Switzerland preferred, despite the restrictions. With this in mind, I believe that the “virtual revolution” will not take place, even if virtual formats have received a boost and are certainly being used more often than they were a few months ago.
Ultimately, it will depend on the people in charge and the participants – because not everyone is comfortable with virtual formats, even if they were forced to do so for a while.
At Global Cultures you have the choice – we offer our intercultural training courses both virtually and on site.
