Self-Confidence & Communication in a New Culture

This training will be held in English and in person

Moving to a new country can feel intimidating. A different language, cultural expectations, and fear of making mistakes often lead international students to stay silent in class, avoid social events, or feel invisible in professional settings. These barriers can affect your confidence and sense of belonging.

In this highly interactive training, you will learn practical tools and simple methods to
boost your self-confidence and improve your communication skills in a new cultural context. We will start with safe and supportive exercises that help you use your voice without fear, then move into real-life scenarios such as introducing yourself in class, joining a conversation at a party, or speaking up in a group project.

You will practice micro-introductions, learn how to manage common barriers, and explore a
practical communication toolkit that includes slowing down for clarity, using questions to show respect, and preparing short personal stories you can share in any situation:

• Slow & Clear Rule: clarity is valued more than speed in German culture.
• Question Bridge: using questions to buy time, show respect, and engage others.
• Story Piece: preparing one or two short personal stories you can always share in conversations.

Why this training is important to you:

Through role-plays and peer feedback, you will discover that confidence is not about speaking perfect German, but about showing Trust, Respect, and Contribution in the way you communicate. These three traits – the IBV Triad (IBV=International Bond Values)– are the foundation for building belonging and creating meaningful connections in both professional and social life.

By the end of the workshop, you will feel more confident to express yourself authentically, better prepared for intercultural situations, and more connected to your peers. You will also leave with a concrete action plan to practice in the days ahead, helping you turn small communication wins into long-term confidence. Communication is not just about words—it is the bridge to belonging. And belonging is what makes you feel at home, happier, and more connected at KIT and beyond.

This interactive training with group activities and discussions is hosted by Iman Baratvakili, Coach & Research Associate at KIT/Project manager at Stadt Baden-Baden. This training takes place at building 11.40, room 214. 

Participation details: 

• Registration is mandatory. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• By registering, you agree that your name and email adress will be forwarded to the Center of Competence, Hochschule Karlsruhe, for organizational purposes. 
• We expect all registered participants to attend and actively to contribute
• If you are no longer able to attend, please cancel your registration in advance, so your place can be given to another student. 

This training is funded by the DAAD project “Study, Stay, Succeed in Karlsruhe”. International degree seeking students and recent graduates from KIT (up to one year after graduation) will be given priority.

We collect, save and process personal data of persons who register for the course in order to organize the event and evaluate the project. The anonymized personal data is shared with the DAAD for statistical reasons. Please see our data protection information for details.

Non-international students can also enroll and will be placed at the waiting list. We inform them a few days before start, if there are places left for non-international students and if they can attend.

Register now to secure your spot!