‘Things on Your Doorstep You Don’t Even Think About’: Thinking Intercultural Engagement with Psychodynamic Theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v34i2.742Keywords:
Intercultural engagement, study abroad, Third Space, psychodynamic theory, secure baseAbstract
Opportunities for working, volunteering, and studying abroad have become popular in higher education as vehicles for the development of cultural awareness and global citizenship. However, such experiences on their own do not guarantee the development of such attributes. What appears to be essential to maximizing the benefits of educational sojourns are well-designed training and support provisions. In this paper, we present an analysis of a training and support program that we piloted in order to explore what aspects of the program facilitated the development of intercultural skills and how they did so. In our analysis, we draw on concepts from psychodynamic theory to discuss the impact that preparation and support can have in enabling students to venture out into the world of difference. Illuminating the phenomenon of study abroad through psychodynamic theory can offer a useful lens that may facilitate a move towards more relational and reflexive practices, promoting meaningful intercultural engagement.
Abstract in GreekΤα τελευταία χρόνια τα διακρατικά προγράμματα ανταλλαγής φοιτητών για σπουδές, εργασία και εθελοντισμό έχουν συγκεντρώσει την προσοχή ως ένα μέσο ανάπτυξης της πολιτισμικής συνείδησης και της αντίληψης του εαυτού ως πολίτη του κόσμου. Η οργανωμένη και μελετημένη εκπαίδευση και υποστήριξη των φοιτητών στα ταξίδια τους είναι καθοριστική για την ενίσχυση αυτών των εμπειριών, καθώς και για την μεγιστοποίηση των οφελών τους και της ανάπτυξη της (δια)πολιτισμικής συνείδησής των φοιτητών. Στο άρθρο αυτό παρουσιάζουμε την ανάλυση ενός πιλοτικού εκπαιδευτικού και υποστηρικτικού προγράμματος που συστήσαμε, με σκοπό να διερευνήσουμε τα χαρακτηριστικά που ενθαρρύνουν την ανάπτυξη διαπολιτισμικών δεξιοτήτων. Στην ανάλυση μας στρεφόμαστε σε ψυχοδυναμικές θεωρίες για να κατανοήσουμε τον τρόπο με τον οποίο τόσο η προετοιμασία όσο και η υποστήριξη των φοιτητών επιτρέπει και διευκολύνει την εξόρμησή τους στην «διαφορετικότητα». Θεωρούμε οτι οι ψυχοδυναμικές θεωρίες αυτές μπορούν να βοηθήσουν στην κατανόηση του φαινομένου της διακρατικής εκπαίδευσης και να ενθαρρύνουν την υιοθέτηση πιο σχεσιακών και στοχαστικών/ενδοσκοπικών προσεγγίσεων με σκοπό την ανάπτυξη μιας πιο ουσιαστικής και βαθύτερης εμπειρίας διαπολιτισμικότητας.
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Copyright (c) 2022 Zoi Simopoulou, Alette Willis, Lorena Georgiadou
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