The Impact of an Erasmus Placement in Students’ Perception of their Intercultural Communicative Competence

Pre- and post-questionnaires answered by UK Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and Spain’s University of Salamanca (USAL) students on their placement abroad support a comparative analysis of its impact on their intercultural communicative competence, comprising the awareness, attitude, skills and knowledge dimensions. NTU students started their placements with better results in them all. Yet, while both groups completed their stay with a similarly increased awareness, the knowledge and skills of the USAL group matched the results of NTU students and, whereas the scores of the attitude dimension towards the host country of NTU students did not increase significantly, those of USAL students decreased.     

改进的集群核心能力评价体系在湖北体育 产业集群的应用研究

根据湖北体育产业战略布局和经济发展实际情况,利用改进的体育产业集群核心能力评价体系对湖北部分地区体育产业集群的建设水平进行实证分析.结果显示:以武汉为中心的体育产业集聚明显,产生一定的集群效应,优势竞争力开始形成;以鄂州、咸宁、宜昌为核心的鄂东南、鄂西地区的体育产业集群中心初步建成,而黄石、天潜仙、襄阳、恩施、黄冈等区域的体育产业还未形成联合体育经济体.为此提出,应统筹规划,发挥湖北区域产业集聚的资源优势;鼓励创新,实施体育产业集聚创新战略.旨在为湖北省体育产业集群发展提供依据.     

中国出口商品的技术结构与贸易竞争力研究--对1995-2012年10类商品MS、RCA、TC和IIT的综合评价

根据Lall（2000）提出的贸易产品技术分类体系进行商品分类,进而分别测算中国1995—2012年10类商品的国际市场占有率（ MS）、显示比较优势指数（ RCA）、贸易竞争力指数（ TC）和产业内贸易指数（ IIT）,分析表明：中国出口商品的技术结构和贸易竞争力都得到了很大提升,在保持传统低技术制成品强大竞争力的同时,部分中高技术制成品的出口取得突破性进展,以市场换技术的发展战略基本成功;但商品贸易竞争力仍主要来自劳动力成本优势,且出口商品的产业集中度过高,仍处于全球价值链的低端。应促进各类高技术产业的发展,抢占其价值链的高端,并在某些中高技术产业重点突破,提高整体贸易竞争力。     

The relationship between fundamental movement skill proficiency and physical self-confidence among adolescents

This study aims to assess fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency, physical self-confidence levels, and the relationship between these variables and gender differences among adolescents. Three hundred and ninety five adolescents aged 13.78 years (SD = ±1.2) from 20 schools were involved in this study. The Test of Gross Motor Development-2nd Edition (TGMD), TGMD-2 and Victorian Skills Manual were used to assess 15 FMS. Participants’ physical self-confidence was also assessed using a valid skill-specific scale. A significant correlation was observed between FMS proficiency and physical self-confidence for females only (r = 0.305, P < 0.001). Males rated themselves as having significantly higher physical self-confidence levels than females (P = 0.001). Males scored significantly higher than females in FMS proficiency (P < 0.05), and the lowest physical self-confidence group were significantly less proficient at FMS than the medium (P < 0.001) and high physical self-confidence groups (P < 0.05). This information not only highlights those in need of assistance to develop their FMS but will also facilitate in the development of an intervention which aims to improve physical self-confidence and FMS proficiency.     

Intercultural education in physical education: results of a quasi-experimental intervention study with secondary school students

Background: Due to migration processes, cultural diversity and strangeness are becoming characteristics of modern society. The competence to handle this heterogeneity – the so-called intercultural competence – is a key competence for all children and youths. Sports and physical education (PE) are often considered as a particular field for enhancing intercultural competence. However, until now there is no theory-based empirical study that proves this assumption. Purpose: This study was designed to examine the effects of a standardised, theoretically driven programme in PE on the development of underlying cognitive concepts of intercultural competence: acculturation attitudes and attitudes towards cultural diversity. Research design: The research design consists of a quasi-experimental design with four measurement points. The intervention group (N?=?69; mean age?=?11.6 years (SD?=?0.60)) followed standardised and theory-driven intervention lessons following the didactical guidelines of the concept of ‘Intercultural Movement Education’ (IME). The developed games tend to trigger ‘crises’ with the aim to insecure students. These experienced insecurities were afterwards reflected upon with the students. The internal control group (N?=?63; mean age?=?11.8 years (SD?=?0.62)) and external control group (N?=?93; mean age?=?10.8 years (SD?=?0.69)) were taught in a unspecific manner. The impact of the intervention study programme was tested with a reliable and valid questionnaire. Results: A significant time by group interaction effect for the subscale ‘assimilation/segregation’ of acculturation attitudes was found in boys and in girls. The attitudes increased significantly after the intervention. For the girls, the intervention group showed also a significant decrease of the attitude ‘integration’. No significant impact of the intervention study on the attitudes towards cultural diversity could be identified either with boys or girls. Discussion: The effects of the study are ambivalent. The significantly increased assimilative attitudes can be interpreted as a need for a sense of security. This is also underlined by the decrease of the integration attitude that values the maintenance of cultural integrity. It must be critically discussed whether the ‘crises’ were too intense and not adapted to the children’s skills to overcome them. Second, we have to critically analyse whether the discussions with the students about their experiences were sufficiently focused to debrief the students. Summary for practitioners: The competence to handle heterogeneity – the so-called intercultural competence – is a key competence for children and youths. Sports and PE are often considered as a particular field for enhancing intercultural competence. However, until now there has been no theory-based empirical study that proves this assumption. This paper describes the development, implementation and evaluation of an intervention programme on intercultural learning in PE along the didactic guidelines of IME. This programme tries to trigger ‘crises’ that stimulate the students to react and think about their self- and world relations. The statistical analyses show that the ‘crises’ were probably too intense as the students’ scores in assimilation attitudes increased. This lead to the didactical reflection of the implementation of intercultural learning processes in PE.     

Intercultural knowledge development: Evidence from student interviews during short-term study abroad

The goal of this investigation was to examine intercultural knowledge development during a short-term study abroad program focused on language and cultural learning. Interviews with students were conducted at the beginning and end of the program, allowing for a qualitative approach to analysis, supported by quantitative measures. While previous investigations have relied on qualitative data, this is the first analysis of intercultural knowledge development based on a qualitative, pre- and post-program design. Intercultural knowledge development was identified considering the change and growth in student knowledge. Results indicated that students experienced a change in the salience of intercultural knowledge themes over the period abroad, focusing on City life and Schedule differences more at the beginning of the program than at the end. Such shift may be indicative of cultural adaptation during the program. Results also demonstrated intercultural knowledge growth over the period abroad, with the greatest growth being related to knowledge themes of Big C (e.g., culture and history), daily life, food and drink, and values and politics. These results led to a distinction between types of knowledge that traditionally have been included in definitions of intercultural knowledge, an analysis of context as it intersects with knowledge development, and a theoretical consideration of the relationship between intercultural knowledge and intercultural communicative competence. Furthermore, practical considerations for cultivating intercultural knowledge during short-term study abroad programs were discussed.     

素质教育、跨文化能力与英语教学

分析了我国大学英语教学中目前所存在的问题,并且从素质教育的角度阐述了在大学英语教学中必须加强文化教育的重要性,讨论了适合于语言教学的文化项的选择办法。指出外语教育的核心应该是包含素质教育在内的跨文化教育。同时,还以培养学跨文化能力,强调了对比法等一些方法和技巧,是用以进行跨文化教育的有效手段。     

教育观念与英语交际能力的培养——以非英语专业博士研究生为例

传统的教育观念、语法翻译教学法和汉语教学模式对英语交际能力发展存在消极影响.交际法教学比语法翻译法更有利于英语交际能力的发展,本文以非英语专业博士研究生为研究对象,通过革新教学理念、课程体系、学习策略和教学手段等,对博士研究生英语教学进行改革,可以有效地提高博士研究生的英语交际能力.     

略论高校图书馆核心竞争力的提升

通过对高校图书馆核心竞争力的理论简述,分析了高校图书馆核心竞争力的内涵及其衡量标准,并从人本管理、学科馆员制度、信息化建设、知识联盟、品牌战略等方面探讨了提升高校图书馆核心竞争力的途径.