Submitted by Josimara Dias Brumatti (bcgdigital@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-03-28T17:48:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE _Copiao_June 26_final Edited 2014 (1).pdf: 4477437 bytes, checksum: 9b9050e5392fdb4cc1ddd54076246b93 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Josimara Dias Brumatti (bcgdigital@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-03-28T18:01:26Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE _Copiao_June 26_final Edited 2014 (1).pdf: 4477437 bytes, checksum: 9b9050e5392fdb4cc1ddd54076246b93 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-28T18:01:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE _Copiao_June 26_final Edited 2014 (1).pdf: 4477437 bytes, checksum: 9b9050e5392fdb4cc1ddd54076246b93 (MD5) / O mundo das relações sociais e culturais de hoje exige novas políticas no domínio do ensino de línguas. A importância dos aspectos interculturais no ensino de uma língua estrangeira cresceu nos últimos anos e tornou-se o principal tema, em estudos que se relacionam com o processo de ensino e aprendizagem como uma prática social. Além de uma perspectiva multicultural, há a perspectiva de educação intercultural. O ensino integrado de língua alemã é visto, neste contexto, como um campo fértil para desenvolver a aprendizagem intercultural, baseada na integração de conteúdos e aspectos linguísticos. Aqui são empregadas considerações para a integração de conteúdo e aprendizagem de línguas (Content and Language Integrated Learning - CLIL), na sua forma e nos seus desafios e suas influências no processo de aprendizagem intercultural de uma língua estrangeira. Este trabalho propõe uma reflexão sobre o estado atual das pesquisas na área de CLIL, no domínio da aprendizagem intercultural e de suas abordagens teóricas. O estudo foi realizado com base na avaliação de programa, aplicado em uma turma de aprendizagem integrada, do 7o ano de uma escola bilíngue, português-alemão, no Rio de Janeiro. O objetivo foi identificar evidências de êxito do programa no desenvolvimento de competência intercultural (CI). Para examinar o nível de CI dos alunos e professor do programa, foi aplicada uma ferramenta de pesquisa padronizada (IDI) aos alunos e seu professor e os resultados foram comparados aos de uma classe do 7o ano do Ensino Fundamental II (EFII), na mesma escola. O ensino de línguas é considerado sob os aspectos da competência intercultural e sua integração na prática. Os resultados desta pesquisa contribuem para a efetiva integração de conteúdos, fatores culturais e linguísticos e o desenvolvimento e adaptação de modalidades de ensino nas escolas com proposta bilíngue. / The world of social and cultural relations today requires new policies in the field of language teaching. The importance of intercultural aspects in the teaching of a foreign language has grown in recent years and has become the main theme in studies that relate to teaching as social practice and the current context in which the learning process takes place. Apart from a multicultural perspective, there is the perspective of intercultural education. The integrated teaching of the German language in the school context is seen as a fertile ground for developing intercultural learning based on the integration of content and linguistic aspects. Considerations for integrating content and language learning (CLIL) , its design and challenges as well as influences on intercultural learning process of a foreign language in the Brazilian scenario are employed here . This study aims at reflecting on the current research in the area of CLIL in the field of intercultural learning and its theoretical approaches. To this end a program evaluation of a 7th grade class studying German as a foreign language was conducted to identify evidence of intentional teaching aiming at the development of intercultural competence (IC). To examine the IC of students and their teacher in the program, a standardized survey examining IC was administered and compared to another class of 7th graders studying German as L2 in the same school. The teaching of foreign languages in schools will be considered under the aspects of IC and its integration in bilingual teaching practices. This study is based on a socio-cultural perspective of language and focuses on the relationship between language and social structure. The results of this study will contribute to the effective integration of content, cultural and linguistic factors and the development and adaptation of teaching methods in schools . This research also provides an overview of the teaching of the German language in Brazil and follows the concepts and dimensions of bilingualism or teaching German as a foreign and second language and deals with the aspect of intercultural learning in a school in Rio de Janeiro.

Emirati students studying at the University of the Emirates, one of three major public institutions of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have a wide demographic of faculty members teaching them an equally wide variety of courses. All of these courses are mandated to be taught in English. These faculty members bring with them their own cultural assumptions, methods, expectations, educational practices and use of language. While previous studies in multiculturalism explore how faculty members engage, know and understand a multicultural student population, one focus of this thesis is to explore how an international faculty affects a monocultural student body (Brown-Glaude, 2009). Speaking specifically to the students who study in a second language, Badger & MacDonald (2007) argue that there is a difference of culture between learners and educators and acknowledgement of that difference is crucial in understanding students’ needs and academic progress. Often what occurs in the classroom is the students bring with them their own cultural assumptions, ideas, tendencies and expectations while the teacher comes in with what may be completely differing sets of each. This idea is noted by Mughan (1998) who states “In order for language learners to apply the language skills fruitfully and effectively, a knowledge of the cultural environment is essential” (p.124). The aim of the research is to shed light on the effects that an international faculty have on a monocultural student body and vice versa. Specifically, it will look at how divergent attitudes and practices, directly attributable to culture, impact the educational practices in the daily operations of the faculty members and the students. Through this research, I seek to better understand the how the dynamic of having an international teaching faculty differs from what one might call a more traditional cultural education setting in which both the faculty members and students are of the same national culture. The research questions address three themes. First explored are the benefits and pitfalls of having an international faculty with a monocultural student population. Included in this are perceptions of the necessity for such an international faculty, what advantages it offers to students as well what real and potential problems it creates. Secondly, the perceived levels and development of intercultural competence in both faculty members and students is looked at. I examined the perceptions of my participants as to the need for this as well as including why and how this skill set is so important within such an international education environment. Additionally explored was how the significance of that skill set might differ from an educational setting which is not so diverse in culture. Lastly, I wished to have a better understanding of the differences of ontology and epistemology at the University of the Emirates between the international teaching faculty members and their students. Considering the wide spectrum of worldviews that may exist from faculty member to faculty member and how these worldviews may differ from Emirati culture, I felt the practices and operations of such diversity warranted further discussion and exploration. Data were collected via structured interviews with faculty participants and focus groups with student participants. Data were then coded using NVIVO and analyzed through the lens of the literature on multiculturalism in education, development and measurement of intercultural competence and the sociological issues in the contemporary UAE. Findings suggest experience and time served in a multicultural environment remain significant factors in the development of one’s intercultural competence and this should be recognized and better utilized. Also questioned by myself and the participants is the readiness of the UAE as a country and a people for such multiculturalism considering the expedited development and diversity of the current demographics. Results suggest that there is a variance in attitudes regarding the need for multiculturalism in the context of the UAE. Contentions are made regarding the perceived necessity and effectiveness of several aspects of multiculturalism in teaching faculty, as well as the effectiveness or lack thereof of the institution’s preparation of newly-arrived teaching faculty and new students for the cultural diversity they will encounter while teaching and learning at the U of E and in Dubai. The honed-skill of intercultural competence serves as an influential factor throughout the research. Findings presented exemplify how and why it serves as a central skill set to have not only as a globalized member of an international teaching faculty but how and why it is a significant skill fresh graduates must develop during their undergraduate careers at the U of E. Further implications are presented regarding the missed opportunity by the institution to prepare both newly-arrived teaching faculty and students alike for the multicultural education they are to encounter. Aspects of such a multicultural approach include the rationale for having it as well as the mandate of English as a medium of instruction. Examples such as these and others are explored from multiple viewpoints. Additionally, the content which orientation programs include need to be revisited and scrutinized by the institution. The growing field of international education and the implications that effectiveness or ineffectiveness of employment of an international teaching faculty serve as exigencies as to why this research is pertinent to modern education systems. All parties involved, being an international teaching faculty, any student who encounters multiculturalism in education and any administration that employs such multiculturalism in education are stakeholders for whom such findings are relevant.

Este estudo teve por objetivo identificar o nível de competência intercultural dos servidores de um instituto de pesquisa científica e tecnológica. A competência intercultural engloba conhecimentos, habilidades, atitudes e sensibilidade em relação às diferenças culturais. O instituto estudado mantém cooperação com instituições internacionais, portanto, recebe pessoas de vários países e muitos de seus servidores frequentemente viajam ao exterior. Assim, é necessário que os servidores sejam dotados de competência intercultural que lhes permita relacionar-se de maneira eficaz com as mais diferentes culturas e evitar mal-entendidos culturais com visitantes na instituição e em outras instituições em outros países. A finalidade deste estudo é construir um conhecimento que seja útil para o setor de Gestão de Pessoas da instituição estudada, assim como para outras organizações, à medida que possibilite avaliar se existe a necessidade de aplicação de cursos ou treinamentos que orientem seus servidores a desenvolver uma alta competência intercultural. O método utilizado foi de pesquisa de estudo de caso, quantitativa e qualitativa, exploratória e descritiva, documental e de campo. Os instrumentos utilizados para a coleta de dados foram análise documental, entrevistas e questionários, aplicados em uma amostra de servidores por acessibilidade. A análise documental permitiu conhecer a história, as atividades, o quadro de servidores, os perfis destes e as multiculturas presentes na instituição. Os dados obtidos nas entrevistas, analisados pelo método de análise de conteúdo, permitiram identificar as compreensões, percepções, visões e opiniões dos servidores sobre a interculturalidade no ambiente de trabalho, o que serviu de subsídio para a construção do questionário. Os questionários foram aplicados na população total de servidores efetivos de carreira, na unidade sede da instituição, com um índice de retorno de 43,5%, e foram analisados com o auxílio do Software Excel, permitindo identificar o nível de competência intercultural, dentre baixo, médio e alto, dos servidores com relação a conhecimentos, atitudes, habilidades e sensibilidade. Com relação a conhecimentos e habilidades, a competência intercultural global dos servidores se enquadrou no nível médio; já com relação a atitudes e sensibilidade, enquadrou-se no nível alto. Pôde-se concluir que variáveis como cargo, sexo, escolaridade, idade e tempo de serviço na instituição influenciam no nível de competência intercultural. / This study aimed to identify the level of intercultural competence of civil servants from an institute of scientific and technological research. Intercultural competence encompasses knowledge, skills, attitudes and sensitivity to cultural differences. The studied institute maintains cooperation with international institutions, therefore, welcomes people from many countries and many of their civil servants frequently travel abroad. It is therefore necessary that they are endowed with intercultural competence that allows them to bring into relationship with the most diverse cultures and avoid cultural misunderstandings with visitors at the institution and at other institutions abroad. The purpose of this study is to build a knowledge that is useful for the Personnel Management area of the studied institution, as well as other organizations, as it allows assessing whether there is a need for implementation of courses or trainings that guide its civil servants to develop a high intercultural competence. The research method used was case study, quantitative and qualitative, exploratory and descriptive, documentary and field. The instruments used for data collection were analysis of documents, interviews and questionnaires applied to a sample of civil servants for accessibility. The analysis of documents allowed to know the history, the activities, the framework of civil servants, the profiles of them and the multi-cultures present in the institution. The data obtained in the interviews, analyzed by using the method of content analysis, allowed to identify the understandings, perceptions, visions and opinions of the civil servants about the intercultural workplace, which served as a subsidy for the construction of the questionnaire. The questionnaires were applied to the total population of effective civil servants, in the institution headquarters unit, with a return rate of 43.5%, and were analyzed with help of Excel software, allowing to identify the level of intercultural competence, among low, medium and high, of the civil servants about knowledge, attitudes, skills and sensitivity. Referring to knowledge and skills, the general intercultural competence of civil servants was framed on the average level; referring to attitudes and sensitivity, framed on the high level. It was concluded that variables such as job post, gender, education, age and length of service in the institution influence the level of intercultural competence.

The aim of the study is to elucidate how primary school teachers perceive the relationship between classroom leadership and multicultural environment. This is done through focus group interviews with primary school teachers from two multicultural schools that serve as representative cases. The result suggests that teachers consider it challenging and instructive to lead groups in multicultural environments. They underline that a leadership competence that emphasizes both good structure and clarity is fundamental to both the learning process and to giving students the right opportunity to perform and feel comfortable. Furthermore, teachers believe that intercultural competence is of particular importance so that misunderstandings in different teaching situations can be prevented. The study therefore points to the importance of multicultural competence or intercultural sensitivity among teachers in such environments as a prerequisite for good classroom leadership.

This study examined college undergraduates' intercultural experiences and attitudes at the beginning and the end of a semester-long course on multicultural issues. Participants were 290 undergraduate college students at the University of North Texas , 202 of whom were enrolled in one of the university's core global studies, cross-cultural, or diversity courses for the fall 2001 semester, and 88 of whom were enrolled in courses outside the core. It was hypothesized that the multicultural group's Positive Inventory of the Consequences of Multicultural Experiences scores would increase and Social Dominance Orientation Scale scores would decrease more than they would for the control group. Findings did not support these hypotheses.

Intercultural competence (IC) as an essential part of conceptualization of the cultural dimension in FLT has been promoted by educationalists as the most preferred type of competence. One of the challenges of incorporating IC into FLT is to move from the recognition of IC as a model of teaching (Byram, Nichols and Stevens, 2001) to the development of practical applications. This can be due to the fact that teachers do not have sufficient knowledge of the theory behind the concept and consequently, have difficulties to implement the curriculum requirements with regards to IC into their teaching. The purpose of this study was to investigate how teachers of English in upper secondary schools in Sweden interpret the concept of IC and, accordingly, what is their view of culture in English language teaching. In order to answer the research question, I used an exploratory investigation by adopting a qualitative research method in form of semi-structured interviews. The results are similar to the previous studies (Lundgren, 2002; Larzén, 2005) and suggest that teachers lack theoretical background and central guidance with regards to IC and do not always integrate language and culture into an intercultural model of the English language pedagogy.

In this thesis I discuss workplace learning during international assignments in a variety of work sectors. In addition to normal adjustments to a new workplace, foreign language acquisition and cultural adaptation are necessary. By collecting and analyzing narratives of a group of Swedish professionals with international work assignments, I have found some regularities and variations of workplace learning as well as some significant effects that these assignments had on their identity. Recommendations are given to providers of preparatory courses for international work assignments as well as sending organizations and employers. The main finding is that workplace learning for international workers follows a trajectory starting already long before departure and continues throughout different phases of the assignment. It also has effects on work life after the return to one’s home culture. The learning resulting from the work assignment affected all areas of life (not only work life) and contributed towards an intercultural identity. This kind of assignment often included networking with several organizations and groups of people of varying nationalities. Instead of working towards becoming full members of one work community, the participants in this study often found themselves in the peripheries of multiple ones. This peripheral albeit influential situation provided many opportunities for learning, both for the individual and the groups they work with. In this way, these international workers have the potential to be agents of change and development in all work communities they relate to.

There have been increase in calls for researchers in educational psychology to integrate methods as well as theories across motivation and multicultural education to examine the intersection of culture and diversity with motivational principles. While much work has been done in K – 12 classrooms examining the application of principles related to autonomy – supportive and culturally responsive teachers and classrooms, not much work has been done examining these constructs together in university classrooms. Global and paradigm shifts in higher education coupled with rising tensions of diversity and inclusion on college campuses have catalyzed the need for intentional approaches to cultivate inclusive classroom environments to facilitate students’ development of academic as well as global competencies. This thesis employed a convergent – parallel mixed methods design integrating frameworks from multicultural education with Self – Determination Theory (SDT) to explore the extent to which instructors’ degree of intercultural competence and diversity inclusivity in their courses was related to students’ perceptions of the classroom environment as culturally responsive and autonomy – supportive as well as academic motivation and intercultural knowledge and competence development. A conceptual model for integrating Multicultural Education frameworks and SDT is proposed with theoretical and methodological implications. Practical implications are discussed for researchers, educators and administrators in higher education highlighting the importance of considering both cultural and motivational factors of students and instructors to facilitate enriching teaching and learning experiences in preparation for living and working in a global multicultural society.

Theoretical part of this Ph.D. thesis deals with the latest findings about intercultural communication and with important intercultural theories focused on two examined countries: the Czech Republic and Japan. It compares Czech and Japanese ways of thinking and behaviors using theory of cultural standards. An overview of current intercultural competence theories is followed by a description of specifics of intercultural competence and of possible ways of developing it. The theoretical part of the thesis is concluded by an overview of benefits and risks of intercultural research in general. The empirical part of the thesis compares intercultural competence of Czech and Japanese university students. The main aim of the study is to construct a questionnaire of intercultural competence, to design an observed situation measuring intercultural competence and to determinate a relationship between components of the questionnaire and the observation criteria. Next aims of the study are to determine differences in intercultural competence of Czech and Japanese university students, to compare them and to find out whether these differences can be explained by the components of the questionnaire. We were interested to what extent is the intercultural competence related to intracultural competence and whether...

<p>  </p> <p>Global hospitality and tourism activities are becoming increasingly diverse in the profile of international visitors as well as in the destination communities that host them. Along with the geographic and demographic shifts, today’s hospitality and tourism employees not only come from multicultural backgrounds themselves but also serve and interact with guests and visitors of different cultures from all over the world. The study was conducted against this backdrop and focused on intercultural competence and intercultural learning in four-year hospitality and tourism programs in the universities of the United States. The purpose of the study is to advance intercultural learning of hospitality and tourism undergraduate students through forward-looking curriculum design. Specifically, the study aims to 1) analyze the extent to which intercultural learning is embedded in current hospitality and tourism programs; 2) identify the intercultural competence in undergraduate students presently enrolled in the programs and effective formats for students’ intercultural learning; 3) evaluate desirable learning materials, approaches, and assessments of intercultural learning from the perspectives of students, educators, and industry professionals; and 4) propose a model of and make recommendations for intercultural learning through curriculum design.</p> <p>A series of mixed methods were adopted to achieve the research goal and objectives. They include descriptive and semantic analyses, a self-administered survey questionnaire, and semi-structured in-depth interviews. The data were collected from 53 four-year bachelor’s hospitality and tourism programs in public or land-grant universities. The results of descriptive and semantic analyses show that clear and direct statements and content about intercultural learning are lacking in general program literature as well as in specific course syllabi. Results of survey questionnaire data demonstrate that the intercultural competence level of undergraduate students in hospitality and tourism programs is neither high nor low. The most effective format for intercultural learning is through personal involvement and interaction. Intercultural activities organized by the university and community are examples of this format. The findings from the interviews reveal the core characteristics of intercultural learning materials, approaches, and assessments. The learning materials need to be current, visualized, and industry-focused. The learning approaches should be interactive and active to place students in the center during their intercultural learning process. The learning assessments are expected to provide opportunities and platforms for students to share their experiences and reflect on what they have learned from intercultural courses. Based on the key findings from the study, a conceptual model of intercultural learning through curriculum design is proposed for hospitality and tourism programs. </p> <p>The study makes some theoretical and practical contributions. Theoretically, the study enriches the literature on intercultural learning and intercultural competence in hospitality and tourism from the curriculum design viewpoint and multiple perspectives of students, educators, and industry professionals. The research integrates intercultural curriculum and internationalization at home into an innovative learning approach to facilitate students’ intercultural learning. The proposed model lays a conceptual foundation for future academic discourse and empirical research. Practically in the educational context, the study offers guidelines for hospitality and tourism programs to develop and design intercultural curriculum through an illustration of an introductory tourism course. The study contextualizes intercultural learning as involving two or more world cultures. The findings are significant in intracultural and subcultural settings as well. The expectations of guests and visitors, be they international or domestic, are influenced by their primary cultures and subcultures alike. Hospitality businesses and tourism organizations can provide a higher level of service quality to their guests and visitors from diverse cultural backgrounds if their employees are interculturally competent through education and training and other human resource functions. </p> <p>The findings from the study bear implications beyond higher education and hospitality and tourism. The study suggests that hospitality businesses and tourism organizations can contribute to building an inclusive community when they are staffed by interculturally competent employees. There have been increasing occurrences of direct and indirect forms of prejudice, discrimination, group profiling, social exclusion, and even hostility both in the United States and around the globe. While these occurrences are rooted in historical, geopolitical, and ideological contexts, they also result from the absence or lack of cultural understanding. Intercultural competence through intercultural learning plays a direct role in promoting harmony and inclusiveness on campus, in the workplace, and in society at large. </p>