Investigating U.S. Students’ Intercultural Competence Development Through a Study-abroad Program: A Longitudinal Ethnographic Study

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 3:45 pm - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Roundtable Session 5: Student Learning and Development in College and Beyond

Abstract

With the rapid expansion of globalization and student mobility,study-abroad programs play a pivotal role in developing students' intercultural competence (IC). This ethnographic study explores IC development among nine U.S. undergraduates during a semester-long program in Switzerland. Using longitudinal data from three rounds of interviews, this study traced students' evolving IC. Findings revealed that participants exhibited a clear progression from ethnocentric to increasingly ethnorelative orientations, aligning with Bennett's Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity. Participants progressed from Minimization towards solid Adaptation and early Integration, demonstrating reflective self-awareness, intercultural adaptability, and empathy. Growth was further evidenced by increased curiosity, greater tolerance for ambiguity, and effective intercultural engagement, which reflected Internal and External outcomes described in Deardorff's Pyramid Model of Intercultural Competence.

Authors

• Jiangfeng Li, Pepperdine University

• Kevin M. Wong, Pepperdine University