Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence - Center for ...

Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence
- all 3 spoke other languages: French (2), English (2), Spanish (2)
- 1 male / 2 females
- educational levels ranged from high school to a masters degree
- 2 indicated a prior intercultural experience / 1 gave no response
- all 3 had a positive experience
- 1 plans to continue language study (Spanish) upon return home
- all 3 developed new intercultural relationships
Volunteers were engaged in several different service projects that included:
- Aliñambi, an organization working with people living in the jungle
- Albergue la Dolorosa, a shelter for low income kids not able to live with their parents
- Escuela Nuestra Señora de la Paz, a nursery home for for low income kids
- Centro Infantil Miquelito, a nursury home for low income kids
C. Assertions
Assertion No. 1
ICC is a complex of abilities
Discussion
The 15 attributes cited in the survey forms (cf. Part II) were based on 138 selected publications
addressing intercultural competence (under various related names). These attributes all proved
relevant and appropriate to the respondents’ IC experiences based on their responses and
comments. They left no item blank nor did they discard or otherwise judge any item as irrelevant.
The attributes included: tolerance, flexibility, patience, sense of humor, appreciate differences,
suspending judgment, adaptability, curiosity, open-minded, motivated, self-reliant, empathy, clear
sense of self, perceptive, and tolerance of ambiguity.
To gain some indication of growth and development among the 5 volunteers with regards to these
attributes, their ratings were contrasted at the beginning and end of their sojourn (cf. Part II.
Personal Characteristics). Responses were limited in number, however, and are based on only 3
respondents at the beginning and 5 at the end of the program (numbers before the slash are
beginning indicators / numbers after the slash are end indicators):
(Perception of Self in Own Culture) 0 1 2 3 4 5
1. intolerant 1/4 2/1
2. flexible /1 2/2 1/2
3. patient /1 /1 3/2 /1
4. lacks sense of humour 2/3 /2 1
5. tolerates differences /1 1/1 2/3
6. suspends judgment 3/5
Center for Social Development
Washington University in St. Louis
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