Cover not available
Part of
Language Acquisition in Study Abroad and Formal Instruction Contexts
Edited by Carmen Pérez-Vidal
[AILA Applied Linguistics Series 13] 2014
► pp. 283–310

Chapter 12. Contrasting intercultural awareness at home and abroad

| Universitat Pompeu Fabra
| Universitat Pompeu Fabra

This chapter examines the effects of Study Abroad (SA), following Formal Instruction (FI), on a group of Catalan/Spanish English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners (n = 28) regarding changes in their intercultural awareness. Data from this group were compared with data from a group of native speakers of English (n = 26) enrolled in a SA program in Spain. Following one of the main objectives in the SALA Project, we seek to understand to what extent learners’ cultural beliefs may change after a three-month SA program. Results showed that intercultural awareness increased immediately following SA but not FI, and it decreased 15 months upon the EFL learners’ return from the SA period. No statistically significant differences were found between the Catalan/Spanish undergraduates and the English group.

Published online: 8 July 2014
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.13.14ch12
References
Alonso-Marks, E. & Oroz-Bretón, N
2005. La influencia de los estudios en el extranjero en la percepción de la cultura anfitriona. Paper presented at the 1st International Conference of FIAPE: El español de futuro, Toledo.
Areizaga, E
2002 El componente cultural en la enseñanza de lenguas: Elementos para el análisis y evaluación del material didáctico. Cultura y Educación 14(2): 161–175. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Barro, A., Jordan, S. & Roberts, C
1998. Cultural practice in everyday life: The language learner as ethnographer. In Language Learning in Intercultural Perspective. Approaches through Drama and Ethnography , M. Byram & M. Fleming (eds), 76–97. Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar
Bender, C., Wright, D. & Lopatto, D
2009 Students’ self-reported changes in intercultural knowledge and competence associated with three undergraduate science experiences. Frontiers 18: 307–322.Google Scholar
Block, D
2008 Narrative, identity and interviews: A personal reflection on key constructs and analytical practices. In Verbal/Visual Narrative Texts in Higher Education , M. Solly, M. Conoscenti & S. Campagna (eds), 25–51. Bern: Peter Lang.Google Scholar
Byram, M
1997  Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence . Clevendon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
Byram, M. & Fleming, M
(eds) 1998  Language Learning in Intercultural Perspective. Approaches through Drama and Ethnography . Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar
Byram, M., Nichols, A. & Stevens, D
2001. Developing Intercultural Competence in Practice . Clevendon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
Byram, M., Gribkova, B. & Starkey, H
2002  Developing the Intercultural Dimension in Language Teaching. A Practical Introduction for Teachers . Strasbourg: Council of Europe.Google Scholar
Chen, G. & Starosta, W.J
1996 Intercultural communication competence: A synthesis. In Communication Yearbook, 19 , B.R. Burleson (ed.), 353–383. NewBury Park CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Chieffo, L. & Griffiths, L
2004 Large-scale assessment of student attitudes after a short-term study abroad program. Frontiers 10: 165–177.Google Scholar
Coleman, J.A
1998 Evolving intercultural perceptions among university language learners in Europe. In Language Learning in Intercultural Perspective: Approaches through Drama and Ethnography , M. Byram & M. Fleming (eds), 45–75. Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar
Corros, F.J
2005 Aspectos pragmáticos, sociolingüísticos e interferencias culturales en la enseñanza de ELE en Estados Unidos. In Proceedings from 16th Conference ASELE, La Competencia Pragmática o la Enseñanza del Español como Lengua Extranjera , A. Álvarez, et al. (eds.), 213–221. Oviedo: Universidad de Oviedo.Google Scholar
Council of Europe
2007  Framework of Reference for Pluralistic Approaches to Languages and Cultures . Graz: European Centre for Modern Languages.Google Scholar
Couper, G.E
2001 The Psychology of Travel: A Theoretical Analysis of how Study Abroad and Positive Regression Affect Personal Growth. PhD dissertation, Northcentral University, Arizona.Google Scholar
Dörnyei, Z
2005  The Psychology of the Language Learner: Individual Differences in Second Language Acquisition . Mahwah NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Fernández, M.I. & Biscu, M.G
2006 Theatre in the acquisition of intercultural communicative competence. International Journal of Learning 12(10): 327–335.Google Scholar
Gudykunst, W.B
1991  Bridging Differences: Effective Intergroup Communication . Newbury Park CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Hammes, M.R., Bennet, M.J. & Wiseman, R
2003 Measuring intercultural sensitivity: The intercultural development inventory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations 27: 421–443. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hismanoglu, M
2011 An investigation of ELT students’ intercultural communicative competence in relation to linguistic proficiency, overseas experience and formal instruction. International Journal of Intercultural Relations 35: 805–817. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hu, Y. & Fan, W
2011 An exploratory study on intercultural communication research contents and methods: A survey based on the international and domestic journal papers published from 2001 to 2005. International Journal of Intercultural Relations 35: 554–566. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Iglesias, I
2010 El reto de la interculturalidad en el aula de LE: Encuentros, desencuentros y aprendizajes. Paper presented at the 1st International Conference online on Interculturality and Education. [URL]
Keysar, B
2007 Communication and miscommunication: The role of egocentric processes. Intercultural Pragmatics 4(1): 71–84 DOI logoGoogle Scholar
López-Maestre, M.D
2007 Investigating language and ideology in discourse on immigrations: A corpus-based critical approach. In Discourse and International Relations , U.D. Scheu & J. Saura (eds.), 141–180. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.Google Scholar
Martín Rojo, L
2003 Dimensiones principales de la comunidad intercultural. Educación y Futuro: Revista de Investigación Aplicada y Experiencias Educativas 8: 81–90.Google Scholar
Martínez-Otero, V
2003 Educación intercultural y desarrollo de la personalidad. Educación y Futuro: Revista de Investigación Aplicada y Experiencias Educativas 8: 51–60.Google Scholar
Miquel, L. & Sans, N
2004. El componente cultural: Un ingrediente más en las clases de lengua. RedELE número 0.Google Scholar
Papatsiba, V
2003  Des Étudiants Européens. ‘Erasmus’ et L’aventure de L’altérité . Bern: Peter Lang.Google Scholar
Pedersen, P
2010 Assessing intercultural effectiveness outcomes in a year-long study abroad program. International Journal of Intercultural Relations 34: 70–80. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Pujolar, J., Fernández, J.A. & Subirana, J
2011 Language, culture and identity in the global age. Digithum 13: 79–84.Google Scholar
Rodrigo, M
1997 Elementos para una comunicación intercultural. Revista CIDOB d’Afers Internacionals 36: 11–21.Google Scholar
1999  La comunicación intercultural . Barcelona: Anthropos.Google Scholar
2000  Identitats i comunicació intercultural . Barcelona: Edicions 3 i 4.Google Scholar
Skopinskaja, L
2003 The role of culture in foreign language teaching materials: An evaluation from an intercultural perspective. In Incorporating Intercultural Communicative Competence in Language Teacher Education , I. Lazar (ed.), 39–68. Graz: Council of Europe.Google Scholar
Soriano, R.M. & Santos, C
2002. El perfil social de la mujer inmigrante marroquí en España y su incidencia en la relación intercultural. Papeles de Geografía 36: 171–184.Google Scholar
Thompson, C.H
2011 A dialogic approach to the design of a transcultural communication classroom activity for multilingual learners. Language, Culture and Curriculum 24(3): 207–220. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Tomalin, B. & Stemplensk, S
1993  Cultural awareness Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar
Tusting, K., Crawshaw, R. & Callen, B
2002. I know, ‘cos I was there’: How residence abroad students use personal experience to legitimate cultural generalizations. Discourse & Society 13(5): 651–674.Google Scholar
Van Dijk, T.A
2003  Ideología y discurso . Barcelona: Ariel Lingüística.Google Scholar
2009 Critical discourse studies: A sociocognitive approach. In Critical Discourse Studies , R. Wodak & M. Meyer (eds.), 62–86. London: Sage.Google Scholar
2011 Discourse and ideology. In Discourse Studies , T.A. Van Dijk (ed.), 379–407. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Van Hooft, A. & Korzilius, H
2001 La negociación intercultural: Un punto de encuentro. La relación entre uso de la lengua y los valores culturales. In V Congrés internacional sobre llengües per a finalitats específiques. The Language of International Communication , F. Luttikhuizen (ed.), 279–289. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona.Google Scholar
Yang, M., Webster, B. & Prosser, M
2011 Travelling a thousand miles: Hong Kong Chinese students’ study abroad experience. International Journal of Intercultural Relations 35: 69–78. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Cited by

Cited by 1 other publications

Tajima, Chihiro
2020. A Mixed Methods Case Study: Japanese Sojourners’ Intercultural Awareness. In Advances in Physical, Social & Occupational Ergonomics [Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 1215], ► pp. 515 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 11 may 2023. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.