Using a PRISM for Reflecting: Providing Tools for Study Abroad Students to Increase their Intercultural Competency

Authors

  • Tracy Rundstrom Williams Texas Christian University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v29i2.390

Keywords:

Study abroad students, Intercultural competence, Study abroad, Education abroad, Reflective writing

Abstract

Numerous studies have shown that simply being in another culture does not guarantee the development of intercultural competence. Students need guidance to seek out opportunities to engage and to make sense of those experiences. Reflection has become a popular methodology to assist students with this. Unfortunately, students often do not know how to do reflective writing or do not have cultural incidents to write about. This research examines one approach to guiding reflection: the use of prompt questions to elicit thoughtful responses and the integration of readings to provide context and grounding. This study demonstrates that reflective writing can be an effective tool for intervening in student learning abroad if done with structure and intentionality.

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Author Biography

Tracy Rundstrom Williams, Texas Christian University

Dr. Tracy Rundstrom Williams is the Associate Director of the Center for International Studies at Texas Christian University. She teaches courses on global citizenship and serves on the executive committee for Discovering Global Citizenship at TCU. She helped design TCU’s Global Citizenship credential and the Global Realities framework that guides TCU’s international endeavors. Her research on intercultural learning, including the "Change Your LENS" process for understanding intercultural encounters, has been published in various journals. 

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Published

2017-11-16

How to Cite

Williams, T. R. (2017). Using a PRISM for Reflecting: Providing Tools for Study Abroad Students to Increase their Intercultural Competency. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 29(2), 18–34. https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v29i2.390