ISSS Programs & Trainings
This calendar includes all ISSS campus events, programs, and trainings. Opportunities are open to all students, scholars, faculty, and staff.
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Tuesday, February 3, 2026
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3:30 - 4:30 pmInternational Studies Building (910 S 5th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Room 115This session explores six key causes of intercultural communication breakdowns and provides actionable strategies to avoid them. Join us to learn how to improve your communication and build stronger connections in diverse settings. Open to faculty, staff, and international scholars.
Monday, February 9, 2026
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12:00 - 1:00 pm
Join us for a special Names Training focused on Brazilian names! This interactive session will explore the diverse linguistic and cultural influences that shape Brazilian names. You’ll gain insight into name structures, pronunciation tips, and cultural context—guided by our presenter with lived experience and knowledge of Brazilian naming customs.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
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1:00 - 1:50 pmCampus Instructional Facility (CIF) (1405 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801); Room 2018In this session, participants will explore how their cultural backgrounds influence values, assumptions, communication styles, and ideas of what feels “normal.” Through guided reflection and discussion, students will begin identifying their own cultural lenses and how these shape interactions in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
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12:30 - 1:50 pmSiebel Center for Design (1208 S 4th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Starlight Room and Upper LobbyWith Valentine’s week approaching, this session invites you to reflect on how different cultures express affection, build friendships, and understand relationships. We will discuss traditions, expectations, and the diverse ways people form meaningful connections. A thoughtful and lighthearted way to explore global perspectives on love and friendship. Free and open to al
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
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3:30 - 4:30 pmInternational Studies Building (910 S 5th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Room 115
This session explores key communication styles, including direct vs. indirect, linear vs. nonlinear, affective vs. neutral, and more. Participants will learn how adapting to different communication approaches can lead to more effective interactions. Open to faculty, staff, and international scholars.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
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1:00 - 1:50 pmCampus Instructional Facility (CIF) (1405 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801); Room 2018
This session examines how culture influences perception, interpretation, and judgment. Participants will practice distinguishing between observation and interpretation, explore common sources of misunderstanding, and learn strategies for suspending evaluation in intercultural interactions.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
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12:30 - 1:50 pmSiebel Center for Design (1208 S 4th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Classroom 1000More detailed information to come. Check back soon!
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
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3:30 - 4:30 pmInternational Studies Building (910 S 5th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Room 115
An introduction to the nature of conflict, factors that influence how conflict arises, and cultural dimensions that shape conflict expectations. Participants learn about differing approaches to conflict across cultural contexts. Open to faculty, staff, and international scholars.
Thursday, March 5, 2026
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12:30 - 1:50 pmSiebel Center for Design (1208 S 4th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Starlight Room and Upper Lobby
Spring is a season of renewal, and cultures around the world celebrate it in vibrant, meaningful ways. Join us as we explore global spring festivals and the values they represent—hope, joy, reflection, and community. Bring your stories and discover traditions you may never have encountered before. Free and open to all.
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
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1:00 - 1:50 pmCampus Instructional Facility (CIF) (1405 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801); Room 2018
In this session, participants will explore how people from different cultural backgrounds make meaning in distinct ways. Through case studies and guided dialogue, students will practice listening for understanding, identifying cultural logics behind unfamiliar behaviors, and engaging with difference without immediate judgment.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
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3:30 - 4:30 pmInternational Studies Building (910 S 5th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Room 115
This session explores how cultural differences show up in practice through the Intercultural Conflict Styles model, which describes four common ways people approach conflict. Participants examine the strengths and challenges of each style and consider how different styles interact. Open to faculty, staff, and international scholars.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
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1:00 - 1:50 pmCampus Instructional Facility (CIF) (1405 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801); Room 2018
This session focuses on recognizing and managing thoughts and emotions that arise in unfamiliar or challenging cultural situations. Participants will explore common responses to change and difference and practice strategies for staying grounded, reflective, and curious when things feel uncomfortable or unclear.
Thursday, March 26, 2026
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12:30 - 1:50 pmSiebel Center for Design (1208 S 4th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Starlight Room and Upper Lobby
Humor is universal, yet what makes us laugh can be surprisingly different across cultures. This session takes a lighthearted look at jokes, comedic styles, playful expressions, and humorous misunderstandings. Come prepared to share a story or simply enjoy hearing how humor connects (and sometimes confuses) us. Free and open to all.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
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3:30 - 4:30 pmInternational Studies Building (910 S 5th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Room 115
This session offers practical guidance and foundational knowledge for campus professionals who work with international students. Topics will include common challenges international students face, such as immigration regulations, academic expectations, language barriers, cultural adjustment, and emotional well-being, as well as the campus and community resources available.
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6:00 - 8:00 pmLiteratures, Cultures, and Linguistics Building Atrium (707 S Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801)
Get ready to sample the flavors of the world at the 14th Annual Taste of Language! Just like sampling dishes from a diverse menu, this event offers a "menu" of languages to try. Each short session is like a flavorful bite, giving you a delicious introduction to the sounds and rhythms of languages from around the globe.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
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1:00 - 1:50 pmCampus Instructional Facility (CIF) (1405 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801); Room 2018
In this session, participants will reflect on challenging intercultural experiences and examine how meaning is constructed during moments of cultural dissonance. Students will practice reframing difficult situations as sources of insight and growth, strengthening their ability to learn from difference rather than avoid it.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
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3:30 - 4:30 pmInternational Studies Building (910 S 5th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Room 115
Build your intercultural skills in this training designed for faculty, staff, scholars, and graduate teaching assistants. This session introduces the Intercultural Development Continuum (IDC), a framework used to understand and enhance intercultural competence. Open to faculty, staff, and international scholars.
Thursday, April 16, 2026
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12:30 - 1:50 pmSiebel Center for Design (1208 S 4th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Starlight Room and Upper Lobby
Beauty and personal style carry unique meanings in different cultures. In this session, we will explore how people around the world express identity through clothing, color, special-occasion attire, and notions of elegance. Join us for a lively conversation that highlights creativity, tradition, and cultural expression. Free and open to all.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
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1:00 - 1:50 pmCampus Instructional Facility (CIF) (1405 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801); Room 2018
This session focuses on bridging cultural differences in relationships, teamwork, and collaborative settings. Participants will explore strategies for shifting perspectives, attuning to others’ emotional and cultural cues, and adapting communication and behavior in ways that are effective, respectful, and appropriate across cultural contexts.
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
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3:30 - 4:30 pmInternational Studies Building (910 S 5th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Room 115
Learn how to use plain language principles to enhance clarity, accessibility, and inclusivity in communication with culturally and linguistically diverse audiences. This session provides practical techniques for simplifying complex information, reducing ambiguity, and supporting understanding across cultural and language differences. Open to faculty, staff, and scholars.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
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1:00 - 1:50 pmCampus Instructional Facility (CIF) (1405 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801); Room 2018
This session focuses on applying intercultural awareness and skills to everyday academic, professional, and community contexts. Participants will reflect on how culture shapes interactions, decision-making, and relationships, and explore practical ways to continue developing intercultural competence over time.
Thursday, May 7, 2026
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12:30 - 1:50 pmSiebel Center for Design (1208 S 4th St, Champaign, IL 61820) Starlight Room and Upper Lobby
As the semester comes to a close, this relaxing and uplifting session invites participants to reflect on the simple joys and comforting practices that bring calm during busy or stressful times. Share the activities, routines, and traditions that help you feel grounded, and learn how others find moments of peace. Free and open to all.