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Effects of a cross-cultural exchange on a junior high school

University of British Columbia

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the effects of a student cross-cultural exchange program on junior high school students. Two concepts 'cultural empathy' and 'worldmindedness' provided a focus for the study. The study was conducted in one Vancouver junior high school in which the exchange program had been in operation for over 15 years. This study used a multi-method research design. Students were interviewed prior to and after the exchange. In addition, they were administered pre and post-test measures of 'worldmindedness' and 'empathy'. As part of the exchange, the school required students to keep a daily journal. The students' journals were analyzed for emerging patterns. No significant statistical differences were found between the students' 'worldmindedness' and 'empathy' on the pre and post-tests. However, the interviews and journals provided data which indicated that students expressed different levels of empathy towards the host culture, they experienced different stages of adjustment, and they felt they had gained knowledge and awareness of the host culture. Students' made judgements towards the host culture which were based on different cultural values. The data from the journals and interviews suggests that exchange experience effected students favorably. This study has used theoretical frameworks which have helped build on the understanding of the effects of a cross-cultural exchange program on youth. The factors which contributed to favorable contact with the host culture and the adjustment stages students experienced are two areas that have been identified in this study and contribute to existing cross-cultural research. In addition, this study has provided further insights into cultural learning which could be utilized in developing pre-training and curriculum material in order to improve and develop existing or future exchange programs.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-01-13

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/3603

Educational Studies

University of British Columbia

UBCV

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