USING SURVEYS AS A TOOL FOR SELF-REFLECTION AND

ASSESSING CULTURAL

UNDERSTANDING

Kristin SassAMLA 612

TEACHING CULTURE – KRAMSCH (1993) Language and culture taught in context Culturally authentic tasks

Elicit authentic responseGet students to communicate effectivelyHelp students understand othersHelp students understand themselves

LEARNING CULTURE – MORAN (2001) Cultural Knowings Framework (p. 18)

Content Activities OutcomesKnowing About

Cultural information

Gathering information

Cultural knowledge

Knowing How

Cultural practices

Developing skills

Cultural behaviors

Knowing Why

Cultural perspectives

Discovering explanations

Cultural understanding

Knowing Oneself

Self Reflection Self-awareness

REFLECTION Overcome culture shock Develop self-awareness (Moran, 2001) “third place” – construct personal

meanings (Kramsch, 1993) Writing – experiencing new thoughts

(Kramsch, 1993) Learner autonomy, metacognition

(Byram 1997)

ASSESSING CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING – BYRAM (1997) Key factors in Intercultural

CommunicationKnowledgeSkillsAttitudesCritical Cultural Awareness

Purpose of Assessment Improve InstructionAccountabilityLearning Opportunity

CHALLENGES IN ACHIEVING CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING Personality Traits (Peterson, 2004)

Open-mindednessFlexibility with attitudes and behaviorAbility to adaptWillingness to change

Cognitive and Affective Development (Byram 1997)

WEEKEND AT WALDSEE 4 days, 20 students Cultural Immersion Theme: Wissenschaft und Energie

(Science and Energy

PRE- AND POST-SURVEYS Based on Byram’s key factors in ICC

Knowledge – Rank knowledge of:SkillsAttitudesCritical Cultural Awareness

RESULTSPre-Survey Mean Post-Survey

MeanListening 7.00 8.17Speaking 6.85 7.33Reading 6.00 7.33Writing 6.10 7.22Cultural Knowledge

6.05 7.00

RESULTS, CONT. Pre-survey

Culture – What comes to mind? 8 Oktoberfest, 7

Food, 5 Beer, Frau, dresses, old houses, music, singing, dancing, Nazis, war

Post-surveyCulture – What

comes to mind? 6 Oktoberfest, 10

Food, 1 Beer, 6 singing, 6 dancing, 5 soccer, 3 friendly people, 2 family, 2 frisbee, 2 language, houses, religions, war, diverse culture

THIS TRIP HAS INCREASED MY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF GERMAN CULTURE Strongly Agree – 29% Agree – 41% Neither Agree nor Disagree – 29%

“I leanred of some of the stuff they do in there free time also most of the dishes they eat for breakfast, lunch, dinnner! Some of the candy they eat! Learing more avout building. Learing kinda about the euros . Learing more about how to ask for things and learned more how you say things in german!”

“We did alot of Germand activities that reflected their culture”

“We really didn't get to learn about the culture, I mean we did but we didn't.”

THIS TRIP HAS INFLUENCED HOW I VIEW MY OWN CULTURE Strongly Agree – 12% Agree – 65% Neither Agree nor Disagree – 24%

“i feel that we need to sing more and eat better and healthier foods. instead of eating chips we should be eating apples and bread. das ist eine gut idea”

“Seeing how Germans are, I see how we live is much different then how they live.”

“I dont really understand this question but it makes me more aware of the difference of the culture”

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS “I had soo much fun at German camp! Eddy was

amazing! If i could live those 3 days over again I would! I had alot of fun singing and dancing to all the songs and the store was really cool. The rooms where really cool to and the whole camp just felt like I was actually in Germany. It was fun to go to breakfast, lunch, and dinner and be able to see little skits that other campers put on. I also enjoyed when Eddy had the disko ball and he accidentally hit himself in the face. The Eco House was really cool. It was cool how they had a window on the ceiling of the teachers floor where students could look down and see them. I hope to go back there again.”

“CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

CONCLUSIONS Most students did increase their cultural

understanding from this weekend Personality traits as well as cognitive

and affective development do play a role

The surveys allowed them to reflect and create knowledge and connections they might not otherwise have made

In the future I will better prepare them on exactly what culture is – some were confused