Hopes and hazards of transculturalism

Educators of international students are frequently challenged by a clashing diversity of cultures in a global classroom. This study examines the sorts of themes and images that might resonate across nationalities and cultures, and could then be used to ease the way for students and educators in international classes. The analysis indicates that applied themes and images, including babies and children, animals, relationships, sports, life cycles, and self image, may help evoke a positive transcultural resonance that draws on a common base of shared experience. The findings are used to consider instructional applications for more effective learning in international classroom settings, and to identify the hazards of misapplying transcultural tools.