Every year thanks to the Erasmus Programme hundreds of students spend a semester studying at a university abroad. In the Czech Republic available data cover only the number of student mobilities and of ECTS credits acquired, or show how the students were satisfied with their studies. The goal of the thesis is to find out whether, or how, the students' intercultural competence increased, how their view on citizenship changed, and how they perceive global citizenship. In the thesis, intercultural competence is measured purely quantitatively using the Multicultural Personality Questionnaire, citizenship is studied by the use of several open questions. Liberal model of citizenship is the most prominent among the students. As for global citizenship, the students' opinions vary. Most often, it was described as an affiliation to the Earth. Intercultural competence has not increased substantially in connection with the studies abroad. If not only academic development, but also increase in intercultural competence and development of responsible (global) citizens is to be achieved by studies abroad, students need to be better prepared for their stay.

Variation in the way that teacher preparation programs implement culturally related curriculum leads to different preservice teacher perceptions on preparedness to teach in culturally diverse classrooms. Research has indicated that preservice teachers can feel prepared after taking a culturally related course, but there is a gap in understanding how culturally related curriculum influences preparedness. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative, explanatory study was to explore how preservice teachers' perceived intercultural competence and self-efficacy, which contribute to preparedness, are influenced by forms of culturally related curriculum in a U.S. university teacher preparation program. Deardorff's model of intercultural competence, Bennett's developmental model of intercultural competence, and the concept of self-efficacy were the conceptual framework of the study. Data included interviews with 4 preservice students, student work, and documents from the teacher preparation program. Pattern matching was used to analyze the data. The results revealed that the students felt that they had increased intercultural competence and confidence to teach culturally diverse students because of the culturally related curriculum that was infused throughout the program. Background experiences were also found to be an important factor in participants' views and abilities. This study can lead to improved curriculum of teacher preparation programs across the United States by providing information on what can better support the development of preservice teachers' intercultural competence and self-efficacy to teach and meet the needs of all students in a culturally diverse classroom.

Given the current state of unprecedented global interdependence, and the growing impact that business has on the world’s inhabitants, Corporate Social Responsibility has become something that is not only desirable, but also expected of corporations. The topic of this qualitative study is the conceptual and pragmatic links of Intercultural Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility. This research focused on an identified informational gap in social responsibility literature and investigated the possible impact of culture and intercultural competence on Corporate Social Responsibility work. The scope of this investigation was purposeful and selective; a well-rounded group of professional Corporate Social Responsibility practitioners contributed to the research. At the end of this research it was determined that in order for social responsibility efforts to be reciprocal, inclusive, and effective, it would be beneficial to consider Intercultural Relations and develop intercultural competence.

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This case study on telecollaboration focuses on Swedish practicing teachers’ attitudes andexperiences with telecollaboration, i.e. an educational tool for communication betweenstudents in different countries to enhance foreign language development and interculturalcompetence. Four Swedish teachers with varying teaching experience were interviewed toshare their experiences of telecollaboration in the earlier school years. The design andimplementation of telecollaborative projects as well as the correspondence with the Swedishcurriculum according to the interviewees will be presented and discussed along with possiblebeneficial outcomes and challenges that might arise in the design and implementation oftelecollaborative projects. These aspects are also compared with findings of previousresearch on telecollaboration in educational settings. Finally, some suggestions for futureresearch in the field is provided.

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This study explores the impact of cultural competence on success in completing key missionary tasks. Qualitative survey results are supported by data from an intercultural effectiveness assessment and a Mandarin Chinese listening proficiency test to describe themes related to missionary communicative success and to explore correlations between intercultural effectiveness and listening proficiency. Missionary communicative tasks are clarified into themes:"obtaining referrals,"obtaining teaching opportunities," and"helping people make and keep commitments." Factors perceived as associating with communicative success include"feeling and communicating love" and receiving"spiritual guidance." The effect of training on intercultural competence is also described. The intercultural effectiveness subcategory of positive regard is shown to have significant correlation with listening proficiency and with missionaries' perceptions of their own awareness of Chinese culture. Suggestions are made for further research and program development.

Исследование посвящено изучению способов фасилитации межкультур-ного диалога и последующему созданию системы упражнений, направленных на эффективное формирование межкультурной компетенции на уроках русского языка как иностранного. Актуальность работы обусловлена в первую очередь открытостью границ и относительной доступностью для населения большинства стран долгосрочного пребывания в иностранных государствах, в том числе с целью получения образования. В диссертации разработана система упражнений, состоящая из трех бло-ков, направленных на формирование следующих навыков: осознание культур-ной специфики человеческого поведения, осознание системы ориентации, ха-рактерной для родной культуры, осознание значения культурных факторов в процессе коммуникативного взаимодействия. Положительным результатом применения тренинговых заданий на уроках РКИ можно считать то, что студенты приходят к практически всем выводам, изначально заявленным как цели задания. / This investigation is devoted to the methods of facilitation of intercultural dialogue and the subsequent creation of a system of exercises aimed at the efficient formation of intercultural competence at the lessons of Russian as a foreign language. Relevance of the work is caused by open borders and relatively accessible to the population of most countries of long-term stay in foreign countries, including the purpose of education. In this paper we developed a system of exercises, consisting of three units, aimed at the formation of the following skills: awareness of the cultural specificity of human behavior, understanding of the orientation system specific to the native culture, awareness of the importance of cultural factors in the process of communicative interaction. As the positive results of training tasks on the lessons of Russian as a foreign language we can assume that students come to virtually all the conclusions, originally declared as the purpose of the task.

В диссертации рассматриваются ключевые понятия, характеризующие сущность межкультурной компетентности, методы и приемы формирования и развития межкультурной компетентности у студентов неязыковых направлений подготовки на занятиях по иностранному языку в вузе. Разработан комплекс мероприятий, направленный на формирование следующих умений: понимание культурных различий, осознание важности культурных факторов в процессе коммуникативного взаимодействия. / This master’s thesis studies the key concepts that characterize the essence of intercultural competence, methods, and techniques for the formation and development of intercultural competence among students of non-linguistic specialties at foreign language lessons. The developed system of exercises aimed at the formation of the following skills: understanding of the cultural differences, awareness of the importance of cultural factors in the process of communicative interaction.

No description available.