Does cross-cultural training in tertiary education enhance cross-cultural adjustment? A systematic review

The increasing cultural diversity within tertiary education and workplace environments requires students and graduates to be knowledgeable and effective in cross-cultural adjustment and managing potential acculturative stress. One of the ways to increase their cross-cultural adjustment is via cross-cultural training (CCT). Given the predominantly business-oriented nature of previous reviews, this paper systematically examined whether CCT was effective when applied to tertiary students. The analysis of different types of CCT and its outcomes was guided by Ward, Bochner, and Furnham’s (2001) ABC (Affective, Behavioural, and Cognitive) model that comprehensively explained the affective, behavioural, and cognitive facets of cross-cultural adjustment. We reviewed 35 CCT studies published post-1990 with control group design or pre-post training evaluation. CCT in tertiary education has become increasingly multi-method and experiential. CCT programs with behavioural components had the most consistent evidence of effectiveness. Programs with both behavioural and cognitive components were more effective than cognitive- and didactic-alone programs. CCT appeared to be particularly effective in enhancing tertiary students’ academic and career performance. Practical implication and suggestions for future research directions are discussed.     

新《国标》框架下日语专业跨文化交际课程教学模式初探

2018年4月由教育部颁布的《高等学校外国语言文学类本科教学质量国家标准》标志着我国高等外语教学进入一个新时代.新《国标》的制定顺应地球村和全球化的发展趋势,将培养外语专业学生的跨文化能力提到了前所未有的高度.日语专业跨文化交际课程的授课内容应该多元化与全面化,近年来兴起的雨课堂线上线下混合式授课方式则真正实现了以"教...     

Intercultural crisis communication: examining the experiences of crisis sojourners

The concept of the sojourner has been studied in a variety of contexts, such as business, education, and international aid. However, there is as yet no communication research on the topic of the crisis sojourner. Consequently, the goal of this study was to explore experiences of crisis sojourners to determine what they perceive as effective and ineffective communication in intercultural settings. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 emergency responders who deploy internationally following events such as the earthquake in Haiti or the Fukushima meltdown. Results showed crisis sojourners from this population were aware of cultural differences and highly alert to the emotional and physical pain of those they were attempting to assist. Furthermore, they were cognizant of cultural norms and had a strong desire to respect local values. These results yield implications for individuals who work as crisis sojourners, and questions about the need for intercultural crisis communication education for those who face such situations routinely.     

Rethinking “Difficult” Conversations in Communication Instruction From an Intercultural Lens: Pedagogical Strategies for “SWAP-ping” the Communication Classroom

Intercultural communication offers both theoretical and pedagogical implications for communication instruction. As such, we interweave theories and concepts of intercultural communication and instructional communication in (re)thinking “difficult,” “sensitive,” or “uncomfortable” classroom conversations that involve privilege, power, and intersecting cultural identities (e.g., racism). In juxtaposing these areas side by side, we first interrogate why intercultural and instructional communication scholars have neglected what the other takes as central: pedagogy and diversity. In particular, we ask: Why are certain conversations deemed “difficult” in the mainstream communication classroom? To whom are they difficult conversations? Why might these conversations feel “uncomfortable or risky”? Second, we crystalize how intercultural communication makes strides toward feeling/thinking/understanding difficult conversations in ways that promote social justice by proposing a pedagogy of “SWAP-ping” the communication classroom.     

Can Detroiters Dream Again? The Imagined Dialectics of Urban Decline in Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown—Detroit

Examining the Detroit episode of Anthony Bourdain’s CNN show, Parts Unknown, this study illuminates how the collective memory of the American dream is ironically projected onto Detroit, the metonymic city of America past. In order to identify the nostalgia of the American dream narrated in the show, we apply the dialectical approach to intercultural communication suggested by Martin and Nakayama and propose the imagined dialectics. Throughout our analyses, we contend that the imagined dialectic narrated in the Parts Unknown episode nostalgically frames Detroit’s past, which inevitably fetishizes its present. We ultimately argue that the nostalgia of the American dream epitomizes the lack of an intercultural and interregional understanding within the US and prevents us from democratic discussion for the betterment of the urban lives.     

试析多媒体辅助跨文化交际教学的积极作用

从运用多媒体辅助跨文化交际教学的实践出发，探讨运用多媒体辅助跨文化交际教学的必要性和优势。多媒体系统能把语言文化知识形象地呈现给学生，给学生提供了理想的在真实情景下感知语言与文化的环境，使文化知识更加具体、全面而真实。这无疑对培养和增强学生的跨文化意识起到了积极作用，同时对培养学生一定的科研意识和科研能力及加强学生的素质教育，起着不可忽视的重要作用。     

How Do You Like Your Forgiveness? Communication Style Preferences and Effects

Two studies examined forgiveness recipients’ evaluations of, and responses to, four styles of forgiveness-granting communication: engaging, deemphasizing, conditional, and suppressing. In the context of close friendships, Study 1 showed that whereas the engaging style was highly preferred, the suppressing and conditional styles were not. Content analysis suggested that the latter two styles are perceived as unclear, inauthentic, and/or in violation of norms. Study 2 suggested that engaging forgiveness is preferable because it effectively addresses personal and relational face needs and reduces uncertainty. Implications for the conceptualization of forgiveness-granting styles and the practical construction of forgiveness expressions are discussed.     

谈大学英语口语课程中跨文化交际能力的培养

跨文化交际能力是语言表达能力的重要组成部分。大学英语口语课程对于学生跨文化交际能力的培养还不够重视。本文从大学英语口语课堂上出现的交际失误入手，分析增强学生跨文化意识的重要性和学生的跨文化交际能力滞后的原因，并且提出了促进学生跨文化交际能力的教学方案。