Intercultural Learning through Study Abroad

  • 1h 25m
  • Susan B. Goldstein
  • Cambridge University Press
  • 2022

Over the past three decades, the population of international students throughout the world has steadily increased. Although university students choose to study in locations other than their home country for a variety of reasons, including professional development and disciplinary training, nearly all education abroad programs have intercultural learning as a central goal. In this Element, perspectives derived from cross-cultural psychological research are applied to an investigation of the effectiveness of study abroad as a mechanism for intercultural learning. Effectiveness is broadly defined and includes not only overall favorable program outcomes, such as gains in intercultural skills, knowledge, attitudes, and awareness, but also a recognition that study abroad experiences and outcomes may vary depending upon participants' diverse and intersectional identities. Best practices for facilitating intercultural learning through study abroad are identified and strategies are outlined for addressing the methodological challenges of research in this area.

About the Author

Susan B. Goldstein, University of Redlands, California

In this Book

  • Introduction and Key Concepts
  • Assessing Intercultural Competence in Student Sojourners
  • Intercultural Competence Outcomes of Study Abroad
  • Facilitating and Inhibiting Factors
  • Theoretical Framework for Intercultural Competence Development through Study Abroad
  • Conclusions and Future Directions
  • References