Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence - Center for ...

Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence
- new perspectives, observe differences, understanding, sense of realism (5)
- self-development, independence, confidence (3)
- adaptability (2)
- communication / language skills (2)
- non-judgmental (i.e., suspend judgment) (2)
- patience (2)
- sense of humor (2)
- appreciation (2)
- self-awareness (2)
- ability to like people and get on with them (1)
- curiosity (1)
- reflective (1)
However, before finalizing any hierarchy, we would also need to add results from items checked
in the attribute list itself. Of the 15 attributes, alumni most often stressed open-mindedness; one
stressed adaptability, curiosity, and understanding; several others also emphasized qualities of
tolerance and empathy. In Part I, item 36, some added: awareness, understanding, knowledge,
acceptance, tolerance, and empathy. In Part II, items 16 & 32, the following qualities were cited:
cooperativeness, stamina, a desire to learn (motivation), and language ability (the last two are
explored further below). Not specifically cited in open-ended responses were these items from the
original list of 15 were the following 3 items: flexibility, perceptive, and tolerance of
ambiguity.
Findings
All attributes commonly cited in the literature were confirmed as competencies relevant and
important to the intercultural experience. All participants indicated they progressed and
developed in each area during their sojourn. From among the 15 attributes cited, they highlighted
several items in particular, suggesting a possible hierarchy of importance (further research
needed). They also identified additional qualities not on our list (cited below), including host
language ability (discussed below under Assertion 2). Hierarchy aside, for the moment we can
organize attributes in clusters as follows:
a. attributes cited in the literature (in no particular order):
tolerance, flexibility, patience, sense of humor, appreciation of differences, suspending
judgment, adaptability, curiosity, open-mindedness, motivation, self-reliance, empathy,
clear sense of self, perceptiveness, and tolerance of ambiguity
b. attributes stressed by respondents (in order of importance):
open-mindedness / positive attitude / acceptance / tolerance
motivation
new perspectives / observe differences / understanding / sense of realism
self-development / independence / confidence
adaptability
communication / language skills
non-judgmental (i.e., suspend judgment)
patience
sense of humor
appreciation
self-awareness
Center for Social Development
Washington University in St. Louis
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