scholarly journals The Impact of Cultural Immersion Experience on Identity Transformation Process

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2680
Author(s):  
Gloria Onosu
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
Identity Transformation ◽  
Cultural Immersion ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Immersion Experience ◽  
The Impact

This study focused on understanding the cultural immersion experience of students who participated in Study Abroad Programs (SAP) and Global Service Learning Programs (GSL). The study looked at how the immersion experience impacted the participants’ view of self and others upon re-entry into their local community. Specifically, we applied the perspective transformation theoretical framework to analyze the extent to which participation in cultural immersion programs transforms students’ perceptions of self and others. The analysis of the semi-structured interviews suggested that by engaging in intentional immersion and guided reflections, participants became aware of the need to reevaluate their perspectives, expectations, and assumptions about self and others. We also found that there were differences in the way participants experienced the cultural immersion process and the impact it had on cultural awareness and self-identity.

The Impact of International Experiential Learning and the Community and University Partnership Supporting Global Citizenship in U.S. Schools

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Krimbill ◽  
Lawrence Scott ◽  
Amy Carter
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
South Texas ◽  
Global Citizens ◽  
Immersion Experience ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Travel Abroad ◽  
The Impact

As global citizens, we have an increasing international interdependence that now impacts the way we solve problems and interact with one another. Intentionally planed travel abroad has the potential to transform lives by creating a greater global and personal awareness, where adolescents see themselves as not just members of their local community, but also a global community. In an attempt to prepare students for an international and interdependent world, one inner-city nonprofit agency partnered with a local university in South Texas to provide overseas experiential learning opportunities paired with service-learning projects. Through one innovative program, more than 600 students have traveled to more than 20 countries as a full-immersion experience, most of which were centered on service-learning opportunities. The students in this program had the opportunity to examine their prejudices, assumptions, and fears while learning about themselves and developing deeper relationships with members of their school and local community through global outreach.

scholarly journals Cultural Immersion: A Trigger for Transformative Learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Oghenebruphiyo Gloria Onosu
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Attitude Change ◽  
Cultural Immersion ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Immersion Experience ◽  
Global Service Learning ◽  
Study Abroad Program ◽  
The Impact

This study examines the cultural immersion experience of 26 students who participated in either a study abroad program (SAP) or global service learning program (GSL). Specifically, the study investigates the transformative learning before, during, and after cultural immersion and the impact it had on participants’ attitudes toward diverse others. The findings indicate that attitude change during and after the cultural immersion experience is a multi-dimensional and unique process that differs for individuals. Additionally, the results suggest that during cultural immersion, certain program factors and personal factors are essential for transformative learning to occur. These factors include intentionality in pre-immersion preparation, the intensity of cultural immersion, and willingness to engage in reflection during post-immersion.

Why corrections? Motivations for becoming a Canadian provincial or territorial correctional officer

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-286
Author(s):  
Rose Ricciardelli ◽  
Krystle Martin
Keyword(s):  
Prison Population ◽  
Correctional Officers ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Correctional Facilities ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Employment Experience ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The growing prison population and challenges related to recruiting and retaining suitable correctional officers (COs) in Canada provided the impetus for the current study. Recruitment efforts in provinces and territories often rely on a variety of diverse testing, ranging from physical fitness to in-person interviews. However, despite such efforts, turn-over rates remain high and insight into what motivates people to seek a career in correctional work continues to require elucidation. By investigating the career development of COs, the purpose of this paper is to understand why certain men seek employment in this field. Design/methodology/approach Data are derived from in-depth semi-structured interviews with male officers (n=41) who have employment experience in provincial correctional facilities. Findings Respondents discussed their initial motivations for entering the field and their career ambitions. Some entered corrections because they lacked alternative options for employment, others as a stepping stone for a different justice-oriented occupation such as policing or parole. Many were motivated by the income and benefits or had a specific vocational self-identity toward correctional work. However, nearly all respondents indicated that, over time, they no longer felt their rate of pay justly reflected the demands of the occupation, thus factors motivating field entry fail to materialize in ways that sustain long-term employee retention. Practical implications CO recruitment should target individuals with interest in the field of justice more broadly. Occupational demands of the CO occupation need to be addressed to reduce turnover. Recruitment should focus not only on new graduates but also be directed toward more mature individuals. The impact of resource intensive interview processes for candidates on turnover rates needs to be evaluated. Originality/value The authors’ focus on COs with employment experience in provincial and territorial correctional facilities, rather than federal, is justified by the lack of research on and the high rate of CO turnover in such facilities. After exploring the qualitative responses of officers, clear themes emerged that align well with natural socio-ecological systems: the self, family and community, and wider society.

scholarly journals Transforming Through Reflection: Use of Student-Led Reflections in the Development of Intercultural Competence during a Short-Term International Immersion Experience

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Ceo-DiFrancesco ◽  
Leah Dunn ◽  
Nathalie Solorio
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Cultural Immersion ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Future Action ◽  
International Immersion ◽  
Change Factor ◽  
Immersion Experience

Purpose: Curricular integration designed to include cultural competence standards for health care professionals is paramount to preparing students to meet the needs of a growing diverse population in the U.S. The purpose of this research is to examine the cultural competency development of occupational therapy students, and to report on their reflections and perspectives during a two-week immersive and service-learning experience in Guatemala. Methods: As intercultural competence is a highly personal trait, the study used a descriptive qualitative research design gaining participants’ perspectives of the short-term international immersion experience through student-led reflective focus groups, using an open discussion format, during the immersion experience. Results: Data analysis yielded three themes: Do, Experience, Understand; Change Factor; and Future Action that represent the student perspective in a cultural immersion experience. The first theme: Do, Experience, Understand encompassed participants’ discussion of how fully engaging in a culture different than their own was necessary to understand differences and commonalities. The second theme: Change Factor included expressions of dissonance in level of physical, emotional, and mental comfort that prompted a transformation within the student. The final theme: Future Action, described a tangible outcome from the immersion experience. By engaging with a different culture, participants experienced a transformation, leading to sharing of their desire to continue their advocacy efforts on behalf of others. Conclusion: Reflection became a key element in the transformative nature of the learning experience. It became obvious that a safe environment in which to share dreams, doubts, cultural missteps and successful moments was necessary for coping with feelings of dissonance. The safe sharing environment added to the cohesiveness of the group, lowered anxiety and provided opportunities for learning. Participants’ verbalized descriptions of transformative learning necessary in the development of intercultural competency during an international cultural immersion experience. By participating in a cultural immersion experience integrated into their curricular program, students began to articulate cultural competencies required to consider multiples lenses, perspectives and backgrounds of their future clients.

Building the Field: The Case for Community Service Learning

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 308-320
Author(s):  
Janelle E. Lawson ◽  
Allison R. Firestone
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Community Service ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Community Service Learning ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Related Service ◽  
The Impact

In this study, the authors examine the impact of a community service learning course on undergraduate students’ decisions to pursue careers as special education teachers or related service providers. Participants ( N = 134) completed a course involving volunteer service with persons with disabilities in the local community and were surveyed as to whether they were interested in pursuing a career in special education upon graduation. Findings indicated that contact with a person with a disability through community service learning was a factor in influencing participants’ willingness to enter the field of special education.

Christmas markets in city centers: how do they impact local residents and businesses?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
István O. Egresi ◽  
Bianca Sorina Răcăşan ◽  
Stefan Dezsi ◽  
Marin Ilieş ◽  
Gabriela Ilieş
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourist Attractions ◽  
Textual Data ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Community Impacts ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

Purpose Christmas markets have more recently become important tourist attractions in Europe. The purpose of this study is to understand how does this recurring event impact local businesses and residents. The research focuses on the city of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Design/methodology/approach This study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. First, a survey was conducted with local residents to evaluate the impact of the Christmas market on the local community. Residents’ perception of social impacts was ascertained by using a five-point Likert scale. The data collected was then processed using the SPSS software. Second, to assess the impact of the Christmas market on the businesses located in the city’s historic central square, semi-structured interviews with managers and front-line employees were conducted. In total, 21 people were interviewed for this study. The interviews were then transcribed, and the content analysis was applied to the textual data. Findings The study found that both residents and local businesses have a positive attitude toward the Christmas market. The only negative impact, identified by a segment of the population and some companies, was crowding of public spaces (including parking problems and traffic jams). Originality/value This study is novel in that, with one exception, there are no studies on the community impacts of Christmas markets. Moreover, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on Christmas markets in Romania and one of the very few in Eastern Europe.

“I Will Not Be Defined by This. I’m Not Going to Live Like a Victim; It Is Not Going to Define My Life”: Exploring Breast Cancer Survivors’ Experiences and Sense of Self

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-360
Author(s):  
Elly Rashidi ◽  
Romana Morda ◽  
Wally Karnilowicz
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Identity Transformation ◽  
Psychological Ownership ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
The Impact

A life-threatening disease such as breast cancer with its pervasive nature of uncertainty can lead to feelings of disempowerment. Nonetheless, survivors may reconstruct their identity within optimism and a celebration of a new self. In this qualitative constructionist study, we explored survivors’ experiences, meaning-making, and identity transformation. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 11 women who identified as breast cancer survivors. Participants were aged 35 years old or above and were in post-diagnosis for at least 3 years. Interview data were collected and analyzed using thematic techniques. We identified three master themes: Diseased Self, focused on emotional distress and the presentation of a façade; Coping Self, explored resilience and post-traumatic growth; and Transformed Self, engaged in presentations of self-image, meaning-making, and psychological ownership addressing survivorship and empowerment. The findings may be used to inform guidelines and support for cancer survivors considering the impact of diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment experiences on self-identity.

A Qualitative Exploration of Maternal Perspectives on the Impact of Stuttering on the lives of 6–10-year-old children

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-62
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Armstrong ◽  
Mary-Pat O’Malley Keighran ◽  
Patricia Collins ◽  
Clare Carroll
Keyword(s):  
School Environment ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Academic Development ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Unexpected Finding ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
The Impact

Objective: The study aimed to explore maternal perspectives of the impact of stuttering on the lives of 6–10-year-old children’s relationships, self-identity, and academic development. Method: A qualitative design was used: five semi-structured interviews were conducted with mothers of children aged 6–10 years who stutter. The data was analyzed using thematic network analysis. Main results: While participants differed in their perceptions of the extent to which stuttering influenced their child’s life, all five discussed aspects of how their child’s relationships, self-identity and academic development had been impacted. Mothers described their child’s personal characteristics, their school environment, how their child communicated with family members and peers and how others related to their child. Conclusion: The findings indicate that, when developing goals for therapy, speech and language therapists should consider how stuttering may be affecting a child in all areas of his/her life. An unexpected finding related to maternal stress levels associated with their child’s stuttering which may be an important variable to consider in treatment. The findings can inform clinical decision-making regarding treatment goals for children who stutter and their parents.

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