Acculturation
SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary receives seminarians primarily from Poland but also accepts other international seminarians from Europe, Latin America and Asia. No one seminarian experiences the acculturation process in the same way or at the same rate. There are numerous factors that influence the acculturation process. These include the individual’s openness to change or diversity, ability to learn a new language and culture, and ability to freely migrate or feel obliged to do so.
The formation program recognizes the need to address the stress or culture shock of the acculturation process. The formation program accomplishes this in three ways.
The first way is cultural learning. This refers to social interaction. The student learns etiquette, how to resolve conflict, and nonverbal communication (eye contact, bodily contact, and gestures). This level of adjustment varies among students.
The next way is social support. The seminary identifies clergy and lay people from a student’s culture who can provide friendship.
The final way is providing culture-specific knowledge and skills (The latter includes practical items, such as: social security card, bank account, driver’s license, etc.). An outline of the goals of the acculturation process are found below. For more information on the supporting objectives behind them, please feel free to contact us.
Human Formation
Year One:
Year Two :
Spiritual Formation
Year One:
Upon completion of the first year of the Seminary formation program, the international student will accomplish the following.
Year Two:
Academic Formation
Upon completion of a first year program the international student will speak on familiar topics, converse intelligibly and be understood by a native speaker of English.
Pastoral (Cultural) Formation
Year One:
Year Two:
Goal One: The seminarian will demonstrate a level of self-confidence in engaging cultural diversity.
Goal Three: The seminarian will begin to demonstrate the ability to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds.
Goal Two: The seminarian will engage in works of justice and charity.
SS. CYRIL & METHODIUS
SEMINARY