Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence - Center for ...
Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence - Center for ...
Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence - Center for ...
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A. Alumni Data<br />
<strong>Exploring</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Assessing</strong> <strong>Intercultural</strong> <strong>Competence</strong><br />
Of a total of 98 alumni (British <strong>and</strong> Swiss combined), 28 returned the questionnaire <strong>and</strong> consent<br />
<strong>for</strong>ms. The breakdown by nationality group was as follows:<br />
• Of a total of 22 British alumni, 8 responded <strong>and</strong> 5 were subsequently interviewed.<br />
Alumni had participated in programs in the following manner: 1 in 2000 (3 months), 1 in 2001 (7<br />
months), 2 in 2002 (3 months each), 2 in 2004 (3 <strong>and</strong> 4 months each), <strong>and</strong> 1 in 2005 (4 months),<br />
<strong>and</strong> 1 volunteer currently in Ecuador during this study. The remaining 14 alumni were unable to<br />
be contacted due to faulty addresses or lack of <strong>for</strong>warding addresses. Hence, 100% returns were<br />
received from alumni who actually got the <strong>for</strong>ms <strong>and</strong> 5 respondents were subsequently<br />
interviewed by telephone.<br />
• Of a total of 140 Swiss alumni, 64 were French-speakers <strong>and</strong> were not included in this<br />
study. The remaining 76 German-speaking alumni participated in the following manner: 7<br />
volunteers in 1999, 10 in 2000, 19 in 2001, 16 in 2002, 8 in 2003, 12 in 2004, 4 in 2005, <strong>and</strong> 5<br />
volunteers currently in Ecuador during this study. Of the <strong>for</strong>ms distributed, 20 alumni returned<br />
the <strong>for</strong>m. The remainder were unable to be contacted due to faulty or unknown addresses. Once<br />
again, 100% returns were received from alumni who actually got the <strong>for</strong>ms. One individual was<br />
subsequently interviewed in person but, un<strong>for</strong>tunately, the remaining interviews were not<br />
conducted due to administrative problems within the MO.<br />
This summary, then, represents a compilation of qualitative data taken from 28 survey <strong>for</strong>ms <strong>and</strong><br />
interviews of 6 alumni. During interviews, the following questions were asked:<br />
1. What abilities do you think are important towards intercultural success?<br />
2. To what extent did you develop these abilities? Why or why not?<br />
3. Was learning of the host language important to your success? Why or why not?<br />
4. What impact did this intercultural service experience have on your life?<br />
5. How <strong>and</strong> to what extent have you utilized any of these abilities in your own life <strong>and</strong><br />
work?<br />
6. Any additional comments?<br />
About the Alumni (from Part I)<br />
Characteristics of respondents are provided separately by national groups to allow some insight<br />
about differences between British <strong>and</strong> Swiss alumni, particularly with regard to their previous<br />
language <strong>and</strong> intercultural experience.<br />
British Alumni<br />
- all 8 were native English speakers; 1 had a second home language<br />
- 6 were monolingual, 1 listed French (B8), <strong>and</strong> 1 listed a home language (Gujarati, <strong>and</strong><br />
some Italian / B6)<br />
- 4 males / 4 females<br />
- all completed 2 years of college or higher<br />
- 4 had a prior intercultural experience / 4 had none<br />
- 6 had a positive experience / 2 gave no response<br />
- 6 continued Spanish language study upon their return<br />
- 1 had prior work in a related field<br />
<strong>Center</strong> <strong>for</strong> Social Development<br />
Washington University in St. Louis<br />
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