What students learn in study abroad: An intercultural perspective Zhenyi Li (Royal Roads University) Heather Tobe (Douglas College)

Intercultural (IC) perspective in study abroad What do students learn? How is IC addressed / structured? How is IC measured?

More about you and your interests Let’s menti More about you and your interests

Programs Field school (DC) Overseas Residency (RRU) 3-4 weeks 3 weeks 20 - 30 graduate students Partnered with local universities Courses on intercultural communication Field school (DC) 3-4 weeks 15-25 undergraduate students (1st / 2nd year) Varied relationship with host institutions 3 UT courses / no intercultural communication course Taught by DC faculty

Comparison Differences Similarities Subject / courses Overseas Student demographics Size of class Partnership Intentionality for intercultural maturity Similarities Overseas Length Institutional support Experiential learning

Institutional support Preparation Debriefing Research

Experiential learning Personal impact Pedagogical impact Intercultural impact

Experiential learning Personal impact Pedagogical impact Intercultural impact

Personal impact “I'm more confident in myself and my choices. Many of my previous school insecurities are gone. I've developed as a person.” (Q71:20) “

Experiential learning Personal impact Pedagogical impact Intercultural impact

Pedagogical impact “It didn’t really seem like school work. The excursions made it easy to wrap your head around the subject matter being discussed … The field-school experience broadened my whole perspective of the subjects more than any classroom lecture or course could do.” (Q53:07) “

Experiential learning Personal impact Pedagogical impact Intercultural impact

Intercultural impact “We are, in some ways, very arrogant about our quality of life and not as willing as we’d like to think ourselves to accommodate other people / cultures.” (Q65:22) “

Intercultural (IC) perspective in study abroad What do students learn? How is IC addressed / structured? How is IC measured? IC, intentional or not Integrated in experiential learning Formal, informal and subjective

4 stages of developing competence in study abroad Unconsciously competent Consciously competent Consciously incompetent Unconsciously incompetent Howell, W. S. (1982). The empathic communicator. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Take away What are you going to take back to your institution? What questions are you going to ask in your meetings about study abroad? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Thank you Any questions? You can find us at Zhenyi.Li@royalroads.ca tobeh@douglascollege.ca