1. Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters
Council of Europe
Education Department – Language Policy Unit
Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters
Christopher Reynolds

2. The general goals of the AIE
To support the development of 11 intercultural competences.

3. The general goals of the AIE
To support the development of 11 intercultural competences.
To analyse one specific intercultural encounter the user has experienced.

4. The general goals of the AIE
To support the development of 11 intercultural competences.
To analyse one specific intercultural encounter the user has experienced.
To encourage reflection about the encounter.

5. The general goals of the AIE
To support the development of 11 intercultural competences.
To analyse one specific intercultural encounter the user has experienced.
To encourage reflection about the encounter.
To develop new intercultural competences

6. Two versions of the Autobiography
The standard version,
for learners aged years
and older.

7. Two versions of the Autobiography
A version for younger learners, for use by children aged between 5 years and years old.

8. Intercultural competences: summary
Respect for otherness
Empathy
Acknowledgement of identities
Tolerance of ambiguity
Knowledge
Skills of discovery and interaction
Behavioural flexibility
Communicative awareness
Skills of interpreting and relating (seeing similarities and differences)
Critical cultural awareness
Action orientation

10. The AIE for Younger Learners
enables the learner to make a personal journey inward, via the analysis of a particular intercultural encounter

11. The AIE for Younger Learners
enables the learner to make a personal journey inward, via the analysis of a particular intercultural encounter
supports and scaffolds self-reflection

12. The AIE for Younger Learners
enables the learner to make a personal journey inward, via the analysis of a particular intercultural encounter
supports and scaffolds self-reflection
encourages and fosters the development of those intercultural competences which are required to engage in effective intercultural dialogue.

13. Examples of use of the AIE 1 – Following a school journey
Use of the Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters on return from a school trip showed:
- Intercultural competence does not depend only on command of a foreign language
- AIE fosters discussions which reveal how intercultural skills are built up

14. 2 – School linking programme
School A:
White middle class monoculture
3% of pupils having English as a second language
Less than 5% from other faith traditions
School B:
15% are from different minority ethnic backgrounds
Around 45% have free school meals
Regular turnover of pupils

15. Responses to the AIE interviews showed
Evidence of communicative awareness
Ability to show behavioural flexibility
Recognition of the complexity of the task

16. Volume 2 available
January 2013