TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC UNIVERSITY STUDENTS Cross-Departmental...
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TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC UNIVERSITY STUDENTS Cross-Departmental Collaboration Diane M. Jacobson, MA – English Language Transition (ELT) Instructor Steven Phalen, Ph.D. – Communications Studies (COMS) Professor
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Transcript of TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC UNIVERSITY STUDENTS Cross-Departmental...
TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Diane M. Jacobson, MA – English Language Transition (ELT) InstructorSteven Phalen, Ph.D. – Communications Studies (COMS) Professor
Does your “global” campus look like this?
University Inspiration for this Project
International Student Enrollment0
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6686 94
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2010-20112011-20122012-20132013-2014Fall 2014
University Inspiration for this Project
UWRF students 19% less likely to interact with students from a different cultural background compared to students from comparable institutions.
January 14th, 2014, Chancellor Dean Van Galen Spring Semester Address to faculty, based on NSSE report.
76% of employers want more emphasis on intercultural competence
72% want more emphasis on intercultural knowledge
AACU. (2008). College learning for the new global century
. . . not only the development of cultural awareness but also increases the ability for leadership
Antonio, A. (2001). The role of interracial interaction . . .
• deeper, more complex learning activities
• perceived a more supportive campus environment
• had more positive interactions
(NSSE, 2013, p.15).
University Attempts to Make an Inclusive Campus
International Student Dorm
The “Year of . . .” Initiative
The Annual International Bazaar
ELT ProgramCommunicationDepartment
ESL students’ lack of social interaction with NES students
Exited ESL students’ frustration with academic group discussion with NES students
Provide Students with practical experience
Foster relationships between international and domestic students
Departmental Inspiration for this project
ESL 322: Advanced Oral Communications
Coms 213: Intercultural Communications
Language Objectives: Functioning in group discussions with Native English Speakers (NES)
Content Objectives: Organizing group presentations and sharing cultural knowledge
Foster collaborationacross difference
Develop strategic, effective, & innovative communication
Foster ethical communication practices
Objectives
Necessary pre-existing conditions
One ESL class and one class of NES students that will both benefit from collaboration Intercultural Communication International Studies International Business TESOL
Two (or more) professors willing to work together
Easier with overlapping class times
Procedures
January Instructors make contact and discuss project Decide objectives, materials needed, responsibilities, timeline
March/April ESL Pre-teaching Coms 213 preparation
April 7 – class discussion April 9– group work time
Decide content of poster and assign roles April 14 – group work time
Mini-lesson on how to make posters using PowerPoint Posters Due by end of class on April 14
April 16 – Students view posters, compare/contrast information, evaluate activity
April 16 – RSCA Spring Gala Coms 213 students attend and maintain/hand in diaries ESL students orally present the information on the poster
ESL 322 Coms 213
Partners assigned before activity
Questions discussed as a class
Questions discussed with partner
Relevant phrases for group discussions
Acknowledge Anxiety
Provide Example Questions
Encourage them to explore
Pre-teaching and Preparation
Culminating Poster Presentations (RSCA)
Praises Criticism
Eye-opening
Practical Activity
Relationships extended beyond the class
Needed more time
More organization with assignment
Overview of Student Experiences
Student Sound-bytes
“This experience wasn’t exactly life-changing (5) but certainly eye-opening (4) for me & now I have a deep appreciation and a better understanding for Brazil. I now want to spend some time there, because I found out I’d like it in Brazil!”
Student Sound-bytes (Cont.)
“It was so cool talking to the guys from Brazil in our group. We found that we had more similarities than we originally expected, but still had a lot of differences in our culture. We laughed a lot. Rafael said Brazilians can make friends anywhere they go and it shows. They shared a lot about their culture, some things I knew and some things were brand new information. This was a super cool experience and I think it was a good idea.”
Lessons Learned
More discussion time Recommend at least 2 class periods of discussion
Posters should be “branded” and acknowledge the supervising instructors
Encourage more focused posters Focus on just one topic instead of all similarities and
all differencesTrain ESL students in how to give poster
presentations Talk to me, not the poster 2 minute time limit
A step in the right direction
Questions
How may this activity be adopted within your program?
What obstacles do you anticipate that we have not considered?
What other final products from the activity do you see possibly emerging?
Is a final project necessary? Why/Why Not?
