I help people communicate successfully

in their own language, a foreign language, and across cultures.

Events and News

Nomadic Diaries Podcast – Interview with me

Doreen Cumberford offers a wonderful podcast about expat life abroad providing insights, personal stories, and advice. I was interviewed by Doreen about

  • adaptation to different cultures
  • intercultural communication
  • and how to communicate more effectively across cultures.

You can listen to Doreen’s conversation with me about living and working in different countries and getting adjusted to a new culture here:

https://www.nomadicdiariespodcast.com/adaptation-the-ultimate-superpower/

 

Learn German Your Way

Self-study at your own pace and benefit from one-on-one online sessions with an experienced German teacher and native speaker of the language. Get the best of both worlds by choosing my Video Package System.

What is included?
• unlimited access to one or two videos for each unit
• PDFs of the slides shown in the video
• additional training materials as needed
• an end of unit review for self-assessment
• two one-on-one lessons on Zoom per unit to practice and ask questions

What is the cost?
• $199 per unit

How many units do I have to study?
• study as many units as you like (no minimum)
• start with the introductory unit to gain a basic understanding of the German language, study basic grammar and vocabulary (foundation)
• continue with units 1-12 to systematically build grammar, vocabulary, and speaking practice of the basic proficiency level A1
• add test preparation sessions after unit 12 to prepare for the A1 proficiency test (can be taken at any Goethe institute worldwide)
• add job-specific or interest-based one-on-one sessions at any time
• study fast and do all A1 units in one year or stretch your learning over several years – your choice

Any questions?
Contact me for a free Zoom consultation https://renataurbantraining.com/contact/

Join one of my ONLINE Meetup Zoom sessions from anywhere in the world

Group 1: FREE ONLINE ESL/ Culture/ Expat Meetup
https://www.meetup.com/Deerfield-Beach-International-Language-Culture-Meetup-Group/

  • all-year round free meetup
  • on the last Friday of the month, 12:30 – 1:30 pm Eastern time
  • join a group of fellow expatriates and global citizens to practice English and to discuss topics such as relocating, intercultural communication and culture shock during breakfast (US Pacific time), lunch (US Eastern time), dinner (Central European time), or a midnight snack (Asian time)
  • fluent and native English speakers interested in intercultural communication are of course also welcome
  • ESL learners should have at least a low intermediate level of English
  • get input, advice, and guidance from a certified and experienced intercultural coach
  • practice English and get error feedback from a native English speaker, certified and experienced ESL teacher
  • ask questions
  • join a group of like-minded expats, global citizens, and ESL learners, listen to others, learn from their experience, give advice, and enjoy the online community

Interested? Click on the link above, become a member of my Meetup group, and register for a meeting. All meetings are ONLINE  (Zoom) and FREE.

Any questions? Contact me directly: https://renataurbantraining.com/contact/

Group 2: ONLINE German Beginner Course (A1)

https://www.meetup.com/Online-Language-Intercultural-Training-Test-Preparation/

Deutsch – German – Tedesco – Allemand – Alemán – Aleamão – німецькою Немецкий – ドイツ人 – 독일 – 德语 – ألمانية

    • ongoing throughout 2024
    • self-studying in combination with small group Zoom sessions on select Saturdays, 4 – 5 pm Eastern time 
    • including PDFs of all slides, summaries, and exercises
    • including videos of all content to self-study and review
    • including end-of-unit reviews and self-assessment
    • join a small group of beginners who have just gone over the basics of the German language, articles, verb conjugation, numbers, singulars and plurals, and basic vocabulary of German A1/1 (basic German knowledge required)
    • expand your knowledge of German grammar and vocabulary
    • get input, guidance, and error feedback from a German native speaker and certified and experienced German teacher
    • ask questions and practice in a small group
    • join a group of people equally interested in learning German, listen to other learners, and enjoy the online community
    • expand your basic knowledge of German to continue with the course later in 2024 and beyond
    • self-study video packages available to catch up

    Cost:  $160 – $250 per person (depending on the number of participants) – inquiry about details now!

    Interested? Contact me directly: 

    https://renataurbantraining.com/contact/

    Group 3: ONLINE German Course (A2)
    https://www.meetup.com/Online-Language-Intercultural-Training-Test-Preparation/

    Deutsch – German – Tedesco – Allemand – Alemán – Aleamão – німецькою – Немецкий – ドイツ人 – 독일 말 – 德语 – ألمانية

    • 3 months (12 weeks): May 18th – August 10th, 2024 (not on July 6th!)
    • Saturdays, 2:30 – 3:30 pm Eastern time
    • on Zoom
    • including PDFs of all slides, summaries, and exercises
    • this course covers units 9 and 10 of the curriculum of proficiency level A2 (vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and practice)
    • high A1/ low A2 German proficiency required to participate
    • get input, guidance, and error feedback from a German native speaker and certified and experienced German teacher
    • ask questions and practice in a small group
    • join this existing group, listen to other learners, and enjoy the online community

        Cost: $140 per person

        Interested? Contact me directly: 

        https://renataurbantraining.com/contact/

        Global DISC Assessment & Coaching

        Discover your own preferences and learn how to communicate effectively with others in business and in daily life

        From $499

        Contact me for details:

        www.RenataUrbanTraining.com/contact/

        WHAT IS GLOBAL DISC?
        It is an ICF accredited, multi award-winning behavioral model explaining how personality type AND cultural background influence all three layers of identity: WHAT, HOW, and WHY: WHAT we do, HOW we behave, and WHY we act, feel, and think the way we do. The assessment is the basis for communication skills coaching that enables you to communicate effectively with others in business and in daily life. For individuals and groups.

        WHAT IS Growth 2.0?
        Measure, visualize, and optimize the three invisible forces that make or break a team: cognitive diversity, psychological safety, and motivational drive. A 100% anonymous assessment and team debriefing ensure psychological safety while providing invaluable awareness and strategies for growth. For groups of 5 and more.

        WHO BENEFITS FROM A GLOBAL DISC ASSESSMENT?
        Companies (executives, colleagues, international teams,  individuals) and private individuals/ couples/ groups.

        HOW CAN GLOBAL DISC AND THE GROWTH 2.0 PROGRAM HELP ME?
        Self-awareness is always the first step in successful communication at home and abroad, in business or in your private life, for yourself or for teambuilding. This is particularly important for geographically dispersed teams and businesses working online. The lack of in-person contact makes trust and relationship building and communicating successfully even more important these days. Once you understand WHY you feel, behave, and react in a certain way, you can avoid conflicts with others, benefit from improved collaboration with others, and build successful teams. The intercultural aspect of Global DISC is particularly important for international teams, companies that have subsidiaries and/ or clients abroad, or individuals who work in an international environment.

        HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT IS INCLUDED?
        BASIC PACKAGE: The cost for one person is $499 (+$150 for every additional person). Larger teams and teambuilding events on request.

        • Global DISC online assessment
        • Individual Global DISC report
        • Growth 2.0 online assessment (for teams only)
        • Growth 2.0 team report(s) (for teams only)
        • 2-hr self-study debrief video to better understand your report
        • 1-hr individual or group coaching session to discuss details of the video and go over activities and action points
        • 3-month online self-study training program ‘Quest’ to continue your journey
        • 1-hr individual or group follow-up coaching session

        Continued support and advice

        Additional one-on-one and group coaching sessions available for a deeper dive, a situational approach, and team growth strategies ($150/ hr or $1,200 for 10-hr packages).

        The Culture Chat (bi-weekly) hosted by the Interchange Institute

        FREE platform for intercultural trainers and those working in an intercultural environment

        Different topics every time.

        Watch a video of a recent culture chat in which I participated:

        https://interchangeinstitute.org/culture-chat

        Learn more about the Interchange Institute:

        https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-interchange-institute

        Upcoming meetings in 2024:

        Wed, May 1st: 10:00 am – 11:00am ET

        Wed, May 15th: 10:00 am – 11:00am ET

        Wed, May 29th: 10:00 am – 11:00am ET

        Wed, June 12th: 10:00 am – 11:00am ET

        Watch the recording of this webinar

        Doing Business with Another English-Speaking Country – Pitfalls and Solutions – Part 1: the US and the UK

        Two Countries Divided by One Common Language

        A saying often attributed to Anglo-Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950), which is still very applicable today. I am taking a closer look at this topic in my webinar series for the World Trade Center Palm Beach starting with an economic, linguistic, and cultural comparison of the US and the UK, why there are so many unsuccessful business ventures and failed expat assignments between those two countries, and how some major linguistic and cultural pitfalls can be avoided.

        To learn more about this topic, you can READ MY ARTICLE HERE:
        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/doing-business-with-another-english-speaking-country-pitfalls-and-solutions

        And to watch the recording of the webinar, CLICK HERE:

        https://vimeo.com/647493121

        Germany

        Meet EU – FIU Event – Working in a European non-profit Organization

        Watch the recording of this FIU event on cultural differences, the application process, and successfully working across cultures

        I had the pleasure and honor of being the moderator of this event guiding our audience through dialogue with our panelists: Annabelle Ballot Pottier (French American Chamber of Commerce Florida), Nevio Boccanera (Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast), Brandon Bohrn (Bertelsmann Stiftung Germany), and Aaron Rosen (World Affairs Council Miami).

        You can watch the recording of this event here:

        https://miamieuc.fiu.edu/youtube-1/2022/meet-eu-working-in-european-non-profit-organization/

        Germany

        Meet EU – FIU Event – How to apply for a Job in the EU

        Watch the recording of this FIU event on cultural differences, resume writing, and interviews

        I was invited to be a speaker on a panel of experts to talk about intercultural communication, pitfalls of cross-cultural commuinication with Germans, and tips and tricks for the application process in Germany including resume writing and interviewing.

        I was joined by two more experts, Annabel Endo (Spain) and Stefano Vetralla (Italy), to share their insights as well as our moderator, Nelly Leon (USA), for a lively discussion. You can watch the recording of this event on the FIU website or directly on YouTube:

        https://miamieuc.fiu.edu/youtube-1/2021/meet-eu-european-expert-career-panel-the-nitty-gritty-of-applying-for-job-in-the-eueurope/

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayrvumpSxUQ

        Germany

        Recording of my Webinar

        Doing Business in Germany and Communicating Successfully with Germans

         

        Germany is an important trading partner for the US. Many companies headquartered in Germany have subsidiaries in the US and vice versa. After China and the United States, Germany is the world’s third-largest exporter and its highly developed social market economy makes it the largest consumer market in the European Union with a population of just over 83 million as of Jan. 1st, 2021. However, there are pitfalls of doing business with Germany ranging from EU restrictions, different environmental standards, and lengthy bureaucratic processes to linguistic challenges and cultural differences.

        Learn more about Germany, German language and culture, and how to do business and communicate effectively with your German business partners and colleagues. Also learn how to build intercultural competence and thrive in a global business environment.

        This webinar was organized by the GABC (German American Business Chamber) in Miami. Watch the recording on their YouTube channel:

        https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yGTXaBQkdt8&feature=youtu.be

        Germany

        Recording of my Webinar

        Benefits of Diverse Teams and How to Manage Them Well

        Diversity – one of the top 10 buzzwords today. Everyone wants it, but very few really understand what this means, how to deal with ‘diversity and inclusion’, and how to really benefit from having a diverse team or staff. The visual representation of diversity on the surface does not provide any advantages other than a ‘photo-op’ for an image campaign, which might even backfire. The true advantages of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) can only be achieved by what I call “living and breathing the lifestyle of DEI” and the attitude of “do it like you mean it”. This is a long journey that requires a lot of effort and commitment, but it is well worth it. According to two McKinsey reports, ‘Why Diversity Matters’ (2015) and ‘Delivering through Diversity’ (2018), diverse companies and teams that manage their diversity well consistently show increased profits, more creativity and innovation, better customer insight, more objectivity and less cognitive bias, higher level of employee satisfaction, a boost in recognition, value, and global image, and a higher success rate in employee retention and attracting new talent.

        READ MY FIRST ARTICLE HERE:

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/diversity-and-inclusion-what-is-it-and-why-do-i-want-it

        While well-managed diverse teams are the highest performing teams, poorly-managed diverse teams show the worst performance. So, what can managers do to reap the benefits of their diverse teams and how can they build successful diverse teams from scratch?

        READ MY SECOND ARTICLE HERE:

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/benefits-of-diverse-teams-and-how-to-manage-them-well

        If you want to learn more about this topic, watch the recording of my webinar in collaboration with the World Trade Center Palm Beach.

        WATCH THE RECORDING HERE: 

        https://vimeo.com/586453586

        Germany

        3-day Webinar – Watch the Recordings

        Communicating successfully across cultures: 3 days – 3 trainers – 3 perspectives

        by Renata Urban (the West), Sameeh Gadallah (the Middle East), and Kirtika van Hunen (the East)

        This 3-day webinar series provided a unique insight into intercultural communication from three different perspectives. Country-specific training or cross-cultural communication training often focuses on one particular country (host country) from the perspective of one country (home country). This gives a very limited perspective, whereas intercultural competence training provides an enlarged comfort zone and a wider perspective for successfully doing business abroad and effectively interacting with others.

        Watch PART 1 of the webinar series (Renata Urban – the West) here:

        https://vimeo.com/568188500

        Watch PART 2 of the webinar series (Sameeh Gadallah – The Middle East) here:

        https://vimeo.com/574634084

        Watch PART 3 of the webinar series (Kirtika van Hunen – The East) here:

        https://vimeo.com/579995459

        Watch the interview

        Intercultural Communication for Brazilian and Hispanic Entrepreneurs in the US 

        Watch the recording of my presentation for https://brazilianbeat.us and my interview with Suzanne Thorson, Mary Sol Gonzalez with https://www.heiflorida.org, and Aloysio Vasconcellos. Thank you for inviting me, Suzanne! What a pleasure to speak with you and the other panelists.

        https://lnkd.in/dUCTCay

        Recording of my Webinar

        Doing Business in Germany and Communicating Successfully with Germans 

        by Renata Urban

        German communication style, leadership style, preferred way of presenting, negotiating and problem-solving, their need for privacy, space, and consensus, their desire for formality and following rules, their love for knowledge and details, and their need to take things seriously can easily derail business negotiations when you come unprepared.

        I covered many aspects of “Doing Business in Germany and Communicating Successfully with Germans” as well as developing intercultural competence to communicate more successfully across cultures.

        Read my article on this topic here:

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/doing-business-in-germany

        Watch the recording here:

        https://vimeo.com/560523087 

        Recording of my Webinar

        Master Cross-cultural Communication When Doing Business in the Middle East 

        by Renata Urban

        Did you miss my webinar? The recording is now available online:
        https://vimeo.com/546095310

        Cross-cultural training for a particular country and general intercultural awareness and competence training to effectively communicate with others can help you avoid pitfalls and increase your success rate of doing business across borders and cultures.
         
        This webinar focuses on intercultural communication when doing business in the Middle East. The purpose of this event in collaboration with the WTCPB was to explore culture, cultural perception, and intercultural communication in general as well as discuss examples and practical applications of concepts of intercultural communication for doing business and communicating successfully in the Middle East in a dialogue with my special guest, Rose Sager, the Trade Representative at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

        Listen to the Interview

        What does a language teacher, intercultural coach, and communication skills trainer do?

        I often get that question and was able to answer it on the Brian Rusk ESPN Radio Show ‘The Rusk Report’. Brian also spoke with Al Zucaro about our webinar series for the World Trade Center Palm Beach.

        Click here to listen:

        https://www.radio.com/espn1520/hosts/the-rusk-report-with-brian-rusk (scroll down to March 28th, 2021)

        Recording of my Webinar

        Cross-cultural Communication and Global DISC 

        When communicating with others, what is more important – culture or personality?

        by Renata Urban

        Did you miss my webinar? The recording is now available online:

        Learn more about personality, culture, cross-cultural communication, intercultural competence, Global DISC, and how to communicate successfully with others. In collaboration with the World Trade Center Palm Beach, I am offering a webinar series on cross-cultural communication, intercultural competence, and international business.

        To read the article (part 1), click here:

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/culture-or-personality

        To read the article (part 2), click here:

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/models-tools-dimensions

        Recording of my Webinar

        Intercultural Communication 

         

        I was invited by the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce to speak about what is culture and intercultural communication, how to build intercultural knowledge and competence for successful communication in international business and teams, and to provide stories, details, and examples about practical applications of intercultural communication.

        Watch the recording here:

        News

        Articles on International Business and Cross-cultural Communication on the WTCPB website

        As a partner of the World Trade Center Palm Beach (WTCPB) and a contributor, I am publishing articles on the WCTPB website on a regular basis starting January 2021. All articles are about international business, cross-cultural communication, and related topics. The articles will be accessible from my WTCPB profile page:

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/renata

        Read my articles here:

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/protocol-vs-cultural-competence

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/the-1001-tales-of-normal-in-international-business

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/culture-or-personality

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/models-tools-dimensions

        https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/doing-business-in-germany

        What I wish my Japanese colleagues knew about working as a foreigner in Japan

        http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200831-why-the-french-love-to-complain?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2F

        Speaking multiple languages at home – a speech and language therapist talks about bilingualism

        https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/multiple-languages-slt/zj8fxbk

        Book recommendation (Diversity & Inclusion)

        Use your difference to make a difference by Tayo Rockson

        The best description of the book are Tayo’s own words about his book. He says: “The goal of Use Your Difference to Make a Difference is to strengthen self-awareness, acknowledge biases, connect with others in a meaningful way, and celebrate the differences around us all. […] This book is a roadmap for navigating the path towards moral courage, compassion, and accountability. […] Culturally intelligent communicators realize that not everyone views the world through the same cultural lens, they do not perpetuate biases and stereotypes. […] This book provides you with the knowledge and the practical skills to transcend barriers, bridge cultures, and cultivate strong relationships with anyone, anywhere.”

        Book recommendation (in German)

        I think I spider (Ich glaube ich spinne) by Andreas Hock

        https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/friday-book-recommendation-german-i-think-spider-ich-renata-urban/?trackingId=12qNJ9aCwyrhY1q1bCCfLg%3D%3D

        This is a brilliant and quite entertaining book for everyone who speaks German or knows someone who does and would like to surprise them with a neat little gift. This well-researched and skillfully written read pokes fun at the unstoppable rise of the English language and its invasion of the German language. Readers can also enjoy funny comparisons of both languages including cognates and false friends, misunderstood translations, and failed attempts of advertising messages in English used in Germany. Enjoy reading!

        Contact me for a free consultation

        Renata's LinkedIn profile

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