Instructional Practices Facilitating Cross-National Interactions in the Undergraduate Classroom

Authors

  • Diana N. Yefanova University of Minnesota, United States
  • Mary Lynn Montgomery University of Minnesota, United States
  • Gayle A. Woodruff University of Minnesota, United States
  • Christopher J. Johnstone University of Minnesota, United States
  • Barbara Kappler University of Minnesota, United States

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i3.301

Keywords:

campus internationalization, domestic-international student interaction, internationalization of the curriculum, pedagogy

Abstract

We examine pedagogical practices that facilitate international and domestic students’ interactions on two campuses of a U.S. public university. Findings highlight the central role of the instructor in supporting student interactions via pair and group work and collaborative assignments that result in increased understanding of class content. The study highlights the need to intentionally address learning outcomes of cross-national interactions, such as communicative and intercultural skills, as students did not always view the benefits of such interactions in the same way as their instructors did.

Author Biographies

  • Diana N. Yefanova, University of Minnesota, United States

    DIANA YEFANOVA, Ph.D., is the Education Program Specialist at the University of Minnesota, Association for Orientation, Transition and Retention in Higher Education. Her research centers on curriculum and campus internationalization as well as cross-border university collaboration. She has worked in the U.S., Russian Federation, and Japan as a researcher, program evaluator, study abroad adviser, university instructor, interpreter, and translator. She is passionate about highimpact, experiential global learning program development in formal and informal education. 

  • Mary Lynn Montgomery, University of Minnesota, United States

    MARY LYNN MONTGOMERY, is a doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction - Second Languages Education at the University of Minnesota. She earned a B.A. in Spanish and French education from St. Olaf College and an M.A. in Spanish from Middlebury College. She has supervised teacher candidates who were pursuing licenses in ESL and World Languages and has taught intercultural communication. 

  • Gayle A. Woodruff, University of Minnesota, United States

    GAYLE A. WOODRUFF, M.A., is the system-wide director for Curriculum and Campus Internationalization at the University of Minnesota. She founded the University of Minnesota's Internationalizing the Curriculum and Campus initiative, which includes the Mestenhauser Legacy Initiative, the Internationalizing the Curriculum and Campus Conference, and the Internationalizing Teaching and Learning Faculty Cohort Program. She has also published on a wide range of topics related to internationalizing higher education.

  • Christopher J. Johnstone, University of Minnesota, United States

    CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTONE, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Comparative and International Development Education. In his research he explores operationalization of inclusiveness as they relate to both international development, education, and campus internationalization. He has worked on education or development-related projects on every continent except Antarctica, but has primarily focused his research in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. His current projects include studies of livelihoods (Kenya and Tanzania), disability identity (India), and equity issues in internationalization (University of Minnesota). 

  • Barbara Kappler, University of Minnesota, United States

    BARBARA KAPPLER, Ph.D, is the Assistant Dean of International Student & Scholar Services in the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance. Barbara has 25 years of experience in intercultural communication, program management, teaching, and research. Barbara is also a member of the Graduate Faculty and serves on graduate committees in the department of with the College of Education and Human Development. Barbara is co-author of three guides for students, staff, and language instructors on “Maximizing Study Abroad,” as well as a book on communication styles. Her career at the University has been an exciting blend of program and leadership experiences, curriculum development, international communication research, teaching, and working with international students. She has lead a campus focus on using data and research to understand and improve the international student experience.

Downloads

Published

2018-07-01

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Research Articles (English)

License

All published articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Unported License.

How to Cite

Instructional Practices Facilitating Cross-National Interactions in the Undergraduate Classroom. (2018). Journal of International Students, 7(3), 786-805. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i3.301