Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence - Center for ...

- learned about communication
- opportunity to develop myself
- constantly learn from them (3)
- this helps me to work better (2)
- became more open (3)
- helps me to recognize differences among cultures (2)
- learned of the impact this experience has on them
- helps me to understand (2)
- to become friends
- to become more tolerant
Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence
It is clear that host mentors were impacted in various ways through interactions with the
volunteers – in areas of knowledge, attitudes, skills, and awareness. ICC contact has the potential
to affect both/all parties in the interaction – volunteers and hosts alike – whether at home or
abroad. The phrase, “looking out is looking in,” acquires more meaning when we also include the
hosts who through contact with foreigners also began processes of reflection and introspection
that might not otherwise have occurred. Hence, the provocative two-way nature of IC contact is
clear, no matter the setting.
Assertion No. 7: People are changed as a result of this experience
Assertion No. 8: Some returnees lean toward specific life choices, life partners, life styles,
values and jobs as a result of this experience
(Use of ICC Abilities in Life and Work)
Discussion
Mentors speak to these points during interviews in the following ways:
(FEMS1+I)
- “I’ve been applying these abilities in my work day by day because my job demands this.
Respect and openness are the basis of this job since it allows people to respect and care about
themselves and these are the values we also try to share with the people who live in extreme
poverty. This experience (with the volunteers) helps me to understand many differences among
people of diverse cultures and even inside the same culture. On the personal side, this experience
has turned me into a more respectful person.”
(FEMS3+I)
- “My job involves interpersonal skills, therefore the experience (with volunteers) helps me to
know how to get along with people from other cultures. (My experience with volunteers) has
helped me to improve these skills.”
(FEMS4+I)
- “ I use these abilities all the time since I have constant contact with volunteers at work. In my
own life, I find that I miss this contact later because we become so close to each other. During
this experience, I learned to respect people from other countries on a higher level, avoiding the
use of terms such as ‘gringo’ which offends foreigners and explaining this to those around me.”
Center for Social Development
Washington University in St. Louis
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