Development of Cross-Cultural Competency Through a School Community: A Case Study of One Two-Way Immersion School in Costa Rica

• In Event: Park Central Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: School Climate Case Studies in Diverse Contexts

Abstract

Cross-cultural competency has been a programmatic goal of TWI since the emergence of these programs. School administrators in TWI programs are in great need of examples of how to implement school wide systems that support cross-cultural competency. An important potential strategy for attending to the cross-cultural skills and orientation is in the development of a supportive school culture and community. One TWI school in Costa Rica can provide an illustrative example. This study examines the ways that school administrators talk about how they organize cross-cultural learning opportunities and efforts in enacting a school-wide cross-cultural curriculum. For these administrators, cross-cultural competencies are embedded in the school culture and community.

Authors

• Erin Feinauer Whiting, Brigham Young University

• Erika Feinauer, Brigham Young University