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How to use this learning object

This is the help page for this learning object. It sets out to give you some advice on the best way to approach your study of the object.

Overview

Culture, identity and personal beliefs have a profound impact on the content and process of communication. When people from different cultures, backgrounds or belief systems communicate, it is easy for misunderstandings to arise. Avoiding such difficulties requires alertness, sensitivity and skill, and also willingness to engage constructively with very different perspectives on the world.

This e-learning resource contains five case scenarios. The scenarios provide examples of the kinds of challenges and dilemmas social workers experience as they communicate across social and cultural divides.

As you work through the scenarios, you will be invited to think about how you would respond, if you were the social worker. You will also discover the options the social worker considered and their potential advantages and disadvantages. You can tackle the scenarios in any order. You will be able to download a checklist to guide you in working with an interpreter and find pointers to other resources. At the end there is an exercise designed to help you to think about your cultural assumptions, as others may see them.

Reference

In the Reference section, you will find a list of the works referenced in this object and you may find these useful to read more deeply into areas of interest. In addition, you will find short references to works or websites throughout the learning object.

Learning aims

The authors have set out the learning aims of this learning object in the 'Learning aims' section on the Start screen.

Timing

We estimate that it will take you around 20-30 minutes to complete your study of this object.

Navigation

We recommend that you work through the introduction, the scenarios and the conclusion in the order that they are presented. To move around, use the 'Next', 'Previous' and 'Back to start' buttons.