4/3/2015
The Cavalier Daily :: International Studies Office, global development program host seminar series, ease study abroad experience
NEWS
International Studies Office, global
development program host seminar series,
ease study abroad experience
Director Catarina Kranzcic says CORE promotes conversation, reduces
student stress
by Kristen Cugini and Maddy Weingast | Mar 19 2015 | 03/19/15 12:06am
Like
1
Tweet
2
The University’s International Studies Office, in partnership with the Global Development Studies
Program and the Department of Anthropology, hosts a seminar series titled CORE — Cultural
Orientation, Reflection and Engagement.
The program began in Spring 2011 with two courses and has grown to include seven seminars.
It is designed to complement a student’s study abroad program by teaching concepts such as
culture, cultural differences, and cross-cultural engagement. CORE Director Catarina Kranzcic
said cultural experience includes the life surrounding what one is studying.
“There has been the old model of study abroad that the idea was the way people would learn
cultural differences and new languages was if you just immerse them,” Kranzcic said.
Kranzcic compared the theory to throwing people in the deep end of a pool and expecting them
to swim because they don’t want to drown. Recent research and observation suggest this old
model only works for some people, and a more effective route is engaging in guided mentored
discussion on cultural experience.
“CORE was created to follow what looks like does work which is to have a mentored
conversation about all the other [everyday] life stuff going on,” Kranzcic said.
Kranzcic said studying abroad can be a stressful experience to many students who don’t know
what to expect. One of the goals of the program is to help students become accustomed to
different cultures and lifestyles. CORE Seminar Instructor Whitney Bevill addressed culture
shock in her seminar, and described her own experiences to attendees.
“I remember how hard it was to get over culture shock and think through different things and not
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2015/03/international-studies-office-hosts-seminar-series-eases-study-abroad-experience
1/6
4/3/2015
The Cavalier Daily :: International Studies Office, global development program host seminar series, ease study abroad experience
let that change me on an emotional level,”
Bevill said. “It’s important for students that go
abroad to be prepared to basically have their
world turned upside down.”
Bevill said it was important to take moments
of culture shock and turn them into positive
insights.
“Take an instance of when you were
surprised or shocked or embarrassed by
something overseas and think about how
you can turn that into a learning experience,”
Bevill said.
The program is broken down into three
series of seminars — pre-departure, during
abroad and life after abroad. Each category
includes a variety of seminars, from “Making
and Unmaking Stereotypes” to “Culture
Shock [to] Cultural Insight.” Students may
attend as many or as few seminars as they
choose.
Kranzcic said the curriculum was developed
by working with students.
“It’s a really hands on practical life skills
curriculum … taking [the] idea of culture and
how … that help[s] you in your life,” Kranzcic
said.
Courtesy University of Virginia
Kranzcic said the curriculum for the program was developed by
working with students who had studied abroad in the past.
Kranzcic also said she commended the instructors of the CORE courses, even though they are
not they are not the most prominent faculty members, but rather the next generation.
“Here at U.Va. we have such a large graduate school and students [who] are gifted class
instructors, so we recruit for instructors who are passionate and really enjoy teaching in an
interactive way,” Kranzcic said.
The CORE seminar instructors combine research from their field of study with useful techniques
to help students transition to life abroad.
CORE Seminar Instructor Julie Starr said her work for her Ph.D. in anthropology interested her in
the program.
“Being an anthropologist is most of what interested me in cross-culture interaction,” Starr said.
“What I go into is all the different information that we’re communicating while we’re talking and
engaging with one another.”
CORE Seminar Instructor Thomas Talhelm, a social psychology Ph.D., said he wants to use his
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2015/03/international-studies-office-hosts-seminar-series-eases-study-abroad-experience
2/6
4/3/2015
The Cavalier Daily :: International Studies Office, global development program host seminar series, ease study abroad experience
background in social psychology and his personal experience abroad to help students process
their experiences abroad.
“There is a lot of psychology research that can be used to help people going abroad both
emotionally and cognitively,” Talhelm said.
For students studying abroad, the CORE seminars are optional, but can be taken for credit. The
program will start a pilot course this year in which a small group of students going abroad over
the summer receive two credits in taking seminars before the departure, completing assignments
while abroad and attending more seminars upon return.
“The best time to really process this stuff is while you’re abroad and after you get back … Until
it’s happened to you it’s an abstract idea,” Kranzcic said. “Coming back that’s the point where
you can really stand back and say what did I get from this and what did I learn [when] you’re not
under the stress of being in a place and trying to perform in a different academic setting.”
She said completing the whole sequence allows the program to take on more meaning for the
student participating.
Published March 19, 2015 in News
The Cavalier Daily welcomes thoughtful, respectful and relevant comments that contribute to a public dialogue. In
order to maintain a high level of discourse, all comments must be approved by our moderator. For more
information, view our full comment policy.
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2015/03/international-studies-office-hosts-seminar-series-eases-study-abroad-experience
3/6
4/3/2015
The Cavalier Daily :: International Studies Office, global development program host seminar series, ease study abroad experience
0 Comments
 Recommend

The Cavalier Daily
⤤ Share
Login
Sort by Best
Start the discussion…
Be the first to comment.
WHAT'S THIS?
ALSO ON THE CAVALIER DAILY
An apology to our readers
ABC agents tackle Native American
student outside Bodo’s Bagels
92 comments • 2 days ago
Andrew — This isn't an apology for posting
18 comments • 3 days ago
articles you shouldn't have posted, it's an
apology for people having happened to be
offended by them. …
concerned alumni — This is incredibly
insensitive.
First all-female Managing Board proves
disastrous
Dumpling truck line to count for nonwestern perspective requirement
17 comments • 3 days ago
1 comment • 3 days ago
✉
Disappointed — This is horrible y'all. I'm an
Anonymous — This isn't funny at all. It's
alumnus who was just talking with
coworkers about UVA's ability to transcend
its recent social …
insulting. Great April Fools Day edition, Cav
Daily.
Subscribe
d
Add Disqus to your site

Privacy
News
Grounds
Local
State & National
Higher Education
Crime
Student Council
Honor Committee
Opinion
Columns
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2015/03/international-studies-office-hosts-seminar-series-eases-study-abroad-experience
4/6
4/3/2015
The Cavalier Daily :: International Studies Office, global development program host seminar series, ease study abroad experience
Lead Editorials
Letters to the Editor
Humor
Columns
Comics
Sports
Football
Baseball
Wrestling
Swim & Dive
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Track & Field
Volleyball
Rowing
Softball
M Basketball
M Lacrosse
M Soccer
M Tennis
M Golf
W Basketball
W Lacrosse
W Soccer
W Tennis
W Golf
Focus
Health & Science
Life
Features
Columns
Spotlights
Love Connection
Blogs
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2015/03/international-studies-office-hosts-seminar-series-eases-study-abroad-experience
5/6
4/3/2015
The Cavalier Daily :: International Studies Office, global development program host seminar series, ease study abroad experience
A&E
Reviews
Features
Community
Q&A
Multimedia
Galleries
Videos
About & History
About
Contact
Corrections
Join
Comment Policy
Permissions
Donate
The Cavalier Daily is the independent student newspaper of the University of Virginia, published since 1890.
Please see our about page for more information.
Download PDF
All Content © Copyright 2015, The Cavalier Daily
Powered by
Solutions by The State News
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2015/03/international-studies-office-hosts-seminar-series-eases-study-abroad-experience
6/6