From the Inside Out: Developing Intercultural Sensitivity and Competence

Delouche, A.¹, Boss, D.L.^1
1University of Florida, Verenigde Staten

 

Submission type

Oral only

Scheduled

Room 117, 11-07-2019, 09:00 - 10:30

Keywords

intercultural sensitivity, intercultural competence, diversity, culture, diverse learners, practice

Summary

 

Intercultural sensitivity is an individual’s ability to develop an understanding and appreciation of cultural differences, leading to appropriate and effective behavior (Chen & Starosta, 1997). It is becoming increasingly important for school psychologists to use a lens of interculturalism in practice to cultivate engagement with individuals of diverse backgrounds (Puyana & Edwards, 2016). In order to develop an intercultural perspective, one must first look within and be attentive to one’s own subjective experience and level of intercultural sensitivity. Given the ever-changing demographics in today’s schools and society, the ability to discriminate cultural similarities and differences is crucial in building relationships and forming connections with students and families of varied backgrounds (National Center for Education Statistics, 2018). This presentation will address relevant literature regarding the benefits of adopting an intercultural perspective. Participants will learn what characteristics are associated with highly developed intercultural awareness and sensitivity, and how these factors contribute to intercultural competence when working with diverse populations. Additionally, the presentation will focus on how school psychologists can shift from the perspective of what not to do when working with diverse learners to what can be done in order to create productive intercultural relationships.

 

Auteurs