Articles
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A Review of Culture Shock: Attitudes, Effects and the Experience of International Students
Abstract: In light of increasing globalization and the rising trend of international study, this paper reviews prominent literature as well as benchmark studies on culture shock, focusing on the experience of international students. First, it takes a look at concepts of the phenomenon, both negative and positive. This is followed by a discussion of the physical and psychosocial effects of culture shock, prior to detailed discussion of international... [...] Read more
Formation and Benefits of Intercultural Friendships: The Role of Communication
Abstract: This qualitative study provides novel insights into exploring factors that influence intercultural friendship formation and friendship benefits, focusing on the role of communication. A research gap has been addressed by focusing on Muslim women who wear the hijab and exploring what factors had influenced their friendship formation with people from culturally different backgrounds and what impact the friendship had on the self. Findings... [...] Read more
Adaptation of International Students: Challenges and Solutions
Abstract: This study presents research on ways and means of adapting international students to higher education in a Russian university. These international students are mostly from CIS countries (former Soviet republics). As a background, the article outlines the role and place of the Russian language in these countries. It goes on to describe how Samara (a large industrial city with 1,200,000 population, formerly Kuibyshev, in the valley of the Volga... [...] Read more
Intercultural Living Together, the Integration and Recognition of Self and Other: Applied Intercultural Ethics
Abstract: Rising global multidimensional migration has altered human/cultural interaction where one now needs to welcome another and the other needs to be welcome. Notwithstanding the intensified interaction, the resulting intercultural paradigm encounters myriad dehumanizing, alienating and subjugating challenges. While juxtaposing Europe’s and Quebec’s intercultural experiences, this article examines these challenges as fallouts of the difficulties... [...] Read more
Social Interactions and Language Use in Multicultural Settings: An Exploratory Study of Personal Networks
Abstract: This study tests the use of social network analysis in the diagnostics of personal communities as relational systems that affect how languages are learned. The egocentric approach of this methodology was applied to identifying the personal networks of adult immigrants attending a literacy program. The study is an exploratory and descriptive analysis with EgoNet software based on five cases. The results show small networks with few significant... [...] Read more
Developing Intercultural Competence at Slovak Secondary Schools
Abstract: The importance of developing intercultural competence as one of the key competences in today’s rapidly changing and multicultural society has been spoken of often. The requirement of preparing interculturally competent communicators has therefore become one of the goals of today’s foreign language education. The aim of the present paper is to shed light on the practice of fostering intercultural skills in teaching English as a foreign... [...] Read more
The Effect of an Intercultural Communication Model on the Reading Comprehension of Refugee and Underprivileged Learners
Abstract: This study describes a shifting of paradigm in the literacy education of Syrian refugees and underprivileged Lebanese learners ( n = 72) in three eighth-grade classes in a public school in Lebanon. The study used a pre/post experimental control-group design to address its research questions. As complement to a Human Rights Education curriculum framework suggested in 2018, an intercultural communication model named the Third Space... [...] Read more