scholarly journals Teaching Mathematics in Multi-Lingual Classrooms: Developing Intercultural Competence via a Study Abroad Program

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Ann Kasmer ◽  
Esther Billings

This study investigated how a study abroad experience teaching mathematics in Tanzania, Africa impacted a group of secondary education pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) from the United States. In particular, we discuss their ability to facilitate the learning of students in multi-lingual mathematics classrooms while personally developing intercultural competence. We examined three areas: the PSTs’ knowledge and comprehension, skills, and attitudes in an effort to understand their ability to teach in multilingual classrooms.

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Shibata

Context Although cultural competencies in athletic training education exist, there are limited international athletic training educational opportunities available. Study abroad experiences help students gain international and multicultural perspectives. The lack of study abroad opportunities is more pronounced in non–English-speaking countries. Objective The purpose of this article is to describe experiences with developing and conducting a short-term, faculty-led study abroad program in Japan. Essential elements and recommendations based on the study abroad program are interwoven throughout the article. Background The diversity in the United States and among the collegiate student-athlete population has increased. However, the population of athletic training professionals does not match this diversity. This mismatch has increased attention to the demand to find ways to nurture cultural competencies in athletic trainers. Simultaneously with changes in the United States, growth of the athletic training profession and athletic training educational programs is noticeable in Japan and other non–English-speaking countries. A well-designed study abroad program can expose students to the unique perspectives of athletic training and/or related health care professions and nurture cultural competency. Recommendations(s) A short-term, faculty-led study abroad program should include an assistant and local facilitator, multiple site visits, at least a day without guidance from the program, an adequate balance between academic and cultural activities, program dinners, opportunities for students to present and share their experiences, and a focus on keeping the trip safe. Conclusion(s) The short-term, faculty-led study abroad program in Japan offered unique opportunities for athletic training students to gain knowledge of and an appreciation for athletic training in diverse cultures and to incorporate these experiences into their future personal and professional practice. Further information and data are required to provide an optimum education for students to learn and apply cultural competencies as health care professionals.


2005 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-203
Author(s):  
Michael Stambolis-Ruhstorfer

This article presents an undergraduate student research project on a cross-cultural comparison of AIDS prevention approaches in France and the United States conducted on a study abroad program in Toulouse, France.


Eos ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Kelleher

A geoscience study-abroad program breaks new ground in the United States by planning the course's curriculum from the get-go to include students with disabilities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 1231-1242
Author(s):  
Celeste Domsch ◽  
Lori Stiritz ◽  
Jay Huff

Purpose This study used a mixed-methods design to assess changes in students' cultural awareness during and following a short-term study abroad. Method Thirty-six undergraduate and graduate students participated in a 2-week study abroad to England during the summers of 2016 and 2017. Quantitative data were collected using standardized self-report measures administered prior to departure and after returning to the United States and were analyzed using paired-samples t tests. Qualitative data were collected in the form of daily journal reflections during the trip and interviews after returning to the United States and analyzed using phenomenological methods. Results No statistically significant changes were evident on any standardized self-report measures once corrections for multiple t tests were applied. In addition, a ceiling effect was found on one measure. On the qualitative measures, themes from student transcripts included increased global awareness and a sense of personal growth. Conclusions Measuring cultural awareness poses many challenges. One is that social desirability bias may influence responses. A second is that current measures of cultural competence may exhibit ceiling or floor effects. Analysis of qualitative data may be more useful in examining effects of participation in a short-term study abroad, which appears to result in decreased ethnocentrism and increased global awareness in communication sciences and disorders students. Future work may wish to consider the long-term effects of participation in a study abroad for emerging professionals in the field.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 54-62
Author(s):  
Fumie Kato

A language assistant (LA) program was introduced into a university-level Japanese program. The LAs in this program consisted of Japanese study abroad students, that is English as a second language students, coming to study from Japanese universities for either one semester or one academic year, as well as American learners returning from a one-year academic study abroad program in Japan. In the southeastern region of the United States, the Japanese language is not yet considered a major foreign language, thus few opportunities exist for American learners to connect with native speakers of Japanese. The LA program endeavors to ease this limitation. It has been extremely beneficial for our American learners to have opportunities to communicate regularly with Japanese study abroad students in the classrooms. Furthermore, it was found tremendously valuable for Japanese study abroad students and greatly helpful for the instructors as well. This paper describes the procedures and examines the effectiveness of introducing an LA program into Japanese language classes. To analyze the program, questionnaires were distributed to LAs (N=20); five department instructors wrote comments concerning the program; and five Japanese language learners submitted reflection papers. Analyses of the qualitative data indicate that the LA program has many advantages for everyone participating.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-168
Author(s):  
Sara A. McComb ◽  
Lorenzo Fedele ◽  
Patrick A. Brunese ◽  
Vicki L. Simpson

The purpose of this paper is to describe a short term study abroad program that exposes engineering and nursing undergraduate students from the United States and Italy to an intercultural and interprofessional immersion experience . Faculty fr om Purdue University and Sapienza Università di Roma collaborated to design a technical program that demonstrates the complementary nature of engineering and public health in the service sector, with Rome as an integral component of the program. S pecifically, the intersection of topics including systems, reliability, process flow, maintenance management, and public health are covered through online lectures, in class activities and case study discussions, field experiences, and assessments. Here in, administrat ive issues such as student recruitment, selection, and preparation are elucidated. Additionally, the pedagogical approach used to ensure constructive alignment among the program goals, the intended learning outcomes, and the teaching and learning activitie s is described. Finally, examples of learning outcomes resulting from this alignment are provided.


Author(s):  
Monica Gray ◽  
Connie Lundy

Successful engineers must be technically savvy, self-confident as well as culturally competent. Cultural competence is the ability to tolerate ambiguity and empathize with the socio-cultural nuances of different people groups. This calls for a diverse engineering workforce especially in today's increasingly global economy. In the United States, Minorities and Females constitute only 4% and 15% of the engineering workforce respectively. Research shows that women and students of color, dropout due to feelings of not belonging coupled with low self-efficacy. To change the profession's diversity portfolio requires a plethora of high impact approaches. Common among successful retention strategies is the provision of structured opportunities for all students to develop self-directing competencies in both the cognitive and affective learning domains. This chapter demonstrates that the study abroad experience engenders, facilitates and fosters these very aptitudes as well as cultural literacy, and advocates for its inclusion in discussions on increasing under-represented participations in engineering.


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