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Why Dialogue?

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Today, the ability for students to navigate disagreement and demonstrate dialogue skills is a must-have competency for college.

The Columbia Institute for Dialogue and Civic Practice offers an innovative curriculum for high school students to learn how to navigate difficult conversations and be prepared for today’s college culture. Before entering college.

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Many colleges have experienced conflict. At Columbia, we have responded to this challenge through our award-winning Listening Tables program. Our concept builds on a simple but powerful formula: true understanding requires genuine listening and real connections between people who meet at the table to explore their differences and create a trusted common ground. This requires a space to practice dialogue without social media, AI, and smartphones, but face-to-face, one conversation at a time.

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Our high school program offers students tools to develop a comprehensive skill set in listening and dialogue, taught by Columbia faculty. Our courses are structured around critical issues to American democracy, including polarization, political conflict, free speech, and the civic role of the university. We pair these insights with our unique approach to listening and dialogue, which gives students the opportunity to explore and practice their skills in live sessions on and off the Columbia campus.

We Are Now Accepting Applications for the Foundations of Dialogue Course in March 2026.

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Our Program in the News

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Questions About Our Program? Contact Us!