Short-Term Study Abroad: Creating Culturally Responsive Teachers

• In Event: Cultural Immersion Experiences to Transform Preservice Teachers' Perceptions of Learners

Abstract

This qualitative study included four female first year teachers who shared a common study abroad experience prior to initial certification. Participants studied abroad in Italy for ten days investigating various educational settings and cultural sites and were involved in a research study to determine perceptions related to cultural and self-awareness. Prior to studying abroad participants had little knowledge of diverse cultures and educational settings other than those reviewed and studied in the college classroom. More than twelve months later each teacher participated in three semi-structured individual tiered interviews to determine how the experience affected instructional pedagogy. The study revealed unique applications of perceptions related to cultural and self-awareness learned while abroad.

Author

• Paula Griffin, Stephen F. Austin State University