Adriana Medina

Intercultural Sensitivity Development in Study Abroad: is Duration a Decisive Element in Cultural Learningoutcomes? Adriana Medina

With the recent focus on internationalizing the U. S. students' experience in college, there has been apush for a variety of short-term study abroadprograms. These programs are becoming increasinglypopular and are drawing a diversified student body. At the same time, study abroad professionals areturning to holistic approaches to their programswhere cultural learning becomes an intrinsic aspectof the overall learning. This book explores thecorrelation, and possible tension, between theduration of a study abroad program and culturallearning outcomes. Data collected from two programsin Mexico are analyzed based on Milton Bennett'sDevelopmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity(DMIS). The analysis should shed some light on thevariables that may affect cultural learning and theimpact of program duration. Of particularinterest are the vignettes that present in somedetail the developmental process of threestudents. This book should be especially useful tostudy abroad practitioners and InterculturalDevelopment Inventory (IDI) administrators.