1 / 27

When the Familiar Is Strange

When the Familiar Is Strange. Becoming Globally Competent in Culturally Unfamiliar Situations Study abroad students’ perception and response to culturally unfamiliar situations David Wong, Ph.D & Allison Webster Michigan State University. the study abroad program.

moses
Download Presentation

When the Familiar Is Strange

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. When the Familiar Is Strange

  2. Becoming Globally Competent in Culturally Unfamiliar SituationsStudy abroad students’ perception and response to culturally unfamiliar situationsDavid Wong, Ph.D & Allison WebsterMichigan State University

  3. the study abroad program Learning, Culture, & Technology in Europe 3 weeks visiting a wide variety of K-12 schools in The Netherlands, Germany, & France 14 teacher education students The development of Global Competency was one of the central goals of the program Michigan State University

  4. the challenge Challenges facing Study Abroad programs… Increasing popularity of shorter programs (SAGE report) Relatively small “cultural distance” in many SA destinations (Western, English speaking, first-world country) Michigan State University

  5. global competency by design Our conceptual model of global competency development has two essential elements Students must experience cultural unfamiliarity (Che et al., 2009; Cushner, 2009; Braskamp, 2012) There must be deliberate, scaffolded reflection on the specifics of those experiences Michigan State University

  6. global competency by design3 Distinctive Program Features 1. Personal Global Competency Goals Select 3 personal global competencies to focus on 2. An Hour By Myself Deliberately seek culturally unfamiliar experiences, by themselves. (3X) 3. Video LogsUse digital video to enhance, sustain, and reflect on the experience Michigan State University

  7. personal global competency goals Students chose 3 global competency goals from a list of 19 global competency goals. They were asked to choose goals that were personally meaningful. By a large margin, the most commonly chosen goal was: “adapting to the unfamiliar” Michigan State University

  8. an hour by myself Directions Spend one hour by yourself. Arrange with the other members in your group to split up and then to meet again somewhere in one hour. You may choose to do anything you want, but try to put yourself in a situation that is somewhat out of your comfort zone. (Of course, you will not want to be in any personal or physical danger. Be especially careful while walking to be aware of traffic!) Immediately afterwards, write some notes in your journal to help you remember later. Note details about what you were observing, thinking, feeling, and doing. Pay special attention to the relationship between these things. For example, how were your thoughts and feelings related to what you saw? How did your thoughts and feelings lead to certain behaviors? Michigan State University

  9. what is culturally unfamiliar to students? What did students choose for their “Hour by Myself” assignment as being “outside their comfort zone”? Shopping (10) Walking around (9) Travel (8) Eating (6) Teaching and school visits (5) Playing games with local people (2) For the most part, ordinary, everyday activities! Michigan State University

  10. an hour by myself Look closer at the activities… Tried not to have a plan, ate new food Went running and decided to not judge others and communicate with others Rode a bus, eyes closed. Tried to find his way back with the help of strangers. Hat shopping The edge of their comfort zone was not far away. The potential for the unfamiliar is surprisingly close. Michigan State University

  11. the edge of comfort and the familiar? The culturally unfamiliar and the edge of students’ comfort zone was much closer than expected Michigan State University

  12. how do students respond to the unfamiliar? Behaviors Unintentional avoidance Intentional persistence Michigan State University

  13. how do students respond to the unfamiliar? Thoughts and Feelings High levels of stress Self-consciousness Self-awarenessinsights about themselves and others Michigan State University

  14. the strange influence of experience Previous study abroad experience seemed to have a negative effect on students’ willingness to step out of their comfort zone and seek the culturally unfamiliar intensity of emotional response to during their “Hour by Myself” experiences self-aware references in their video reflections Michigan State University

  15. Michigan State University

  16. Denial (1=not at all like me; 5=just like me) 01. I do not really notice cultural differences. 02. I think that cultural diversity really only exists in other places. 03. I feel most comfortable living and working in a community where people look and act like me. 04. I have intentionally sought to live in a racially or culturally distinct community. Defense (1=not at all like me; 5=just like me) 05. I am surrounded by culturally diverse people, and feel like my cultural values are threatened. 06. I sometimes find myself thinking derogatory things about people who look or act differently from me. 07. I believe that aid to developing countries should be targeted to those efforts that help these countries evolve toward the types of social, economic, and political systems that exist in the United States 08. I believe that certain groups of people are very troublesome and do not deserve to be treated well. 09. Ibelieve thatAmerican society should embrace the values of this culture in order to address the problems of contemporary American society. Michigan State University

  17. Minimization (1=not at all like me; 5=just like me) 10. I understand that difference exist but believe that we should focus on similarities. We are all human. 11. I think that most human behavior can be understood as manifestations of instinctual behavior like territoriality and sex (not on survey) 12. I think that all human beings are subject to the same historical forces, economic and political laws, or psychological principles. These principles are invariable across cultures. 13. I believe that physical displays of human emotions are universally recognizable: A smile is a smile wherever you go. Acceptance (1=not at all like me; 5=just like me) 14. I acknowledge and respect cultural difference. Cultural diversity is a preferable human condition. 15. I believe that verbal and nonverbal behavior varies across cultures and that all forms of such behavior are worthy of respect. 16. I think that cultural variations in behavior spring from different worldview assumptions. 17. I believe that my worldview is one of many equally valid worldviews. Michigan State University

  18. Adaptation (1=not at all like me; 5=just like me) 18. I have added to my own cultural skills new verbal and nonverbal communication skills that are appropriate in another culture. 19. I believe that culture is a process. One does not have culture: one engages in culture. 20. I am able to temporarily give up my own worldview to participate in another worldview. 21. I have two or more cultural frames of reference, and I feel positive about cultural differences. Integration (1=not at all like me; 5=just like me) 22. I feel culturally marginal or on the periphery of two or more cultures. 23. I am able to analyze and evaluate situations from one or more chosen cultural perspectives. 24. When faced with a choice about how I am going to respond to a given situation, I am able to shift between two or more cultural perspectives and consciously make a choice to act from one of these cultural contexts. Michigan State University

  19. Michigan State University

  20. Substantive Knowledge(1=not at all like me; 5=just like me) I believe the world has become economically, environmentally, and politically interdependent. I have substantive knowledge about at least one other culture outside of the United States, and I apply this knowledge with confidence in my professional work. I am linguistically and culturally competent in at least one language and culture other than my own I use a language other than my native language at least 25% of the time. I am interested and spend considerable time working on global issues. I have substantive competence in analyzing global issues and a working knowledge of concepts and methods that can describe, explain, and predict changes in global systems. I think the choice one makes at home have relevance for other countries and vice versa. Michigan State University

  21. Perceptual Understanding(1=not at all like me; 5=just like me) I appreciate how people from other cultures are different from me. I am conscious of my own perspectives and culture. I want to continue to learn about the world’s peoples, cultures, and issues I question my own prejudices as well as all national and cultural stereotypes. 11. I recognize that my worldview is not universal. 12. I find people from other places exotic and unusual. Michigan State University

  22. Intercultural Communication(1=not at all like me; 5=just like me) 13. I feel uncomfortable when I am with people who are speaking a language I do not know. 14. I try to learn about people from other cultures so that we can work and socialize together 15. I incorporate the attractive aspects of other cultures into my own way of doing things. 16. I have learned how to produce work with people from other places in the globe 17. I feel self-confident and comfortable socializing with people from other cultures. 18. I have long-term friendships with several people from other cultures. 19. I have the ability to deal flexibly with and adjust to new people, places, and situations. 20. I have the ability to psychologically put myself into another person’s shoes. 21. I can act as a cultural mediator and serve as a bridge between people of different cultures. Michigan State University

  23. Michigan State University

  24. Michigan State University

  25. video logs Directions In your VLog entry, strive to be detailed and specific and highly personal. You should prepare my making a few notes. However, speak naturally, as if to a close friend. Do not edit your video by stopping too often or re-doing sections. All VLogs should have the following sections in this order. Introduction. Describe the situation. Explain why you chose it and sought it out, or how it came about on its own. The story. Describe what happened. Tell it as a story. Be sure to describe your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors before, during, and after the experience. Explanation. What attributions do you make for what did or did not go well? Michigan State University

  26. Michigan State University

  27. Thank you! David Wong, Ph.D. dwong@msu.edu Allison Webster webst162@msu.edu Michigan State University

More Related