Teaching Intercultural Communication in Ukraine: A Case Study

Abstract

This is a case study of a foreigner teaching intercultural communication to EFL students from a country not often described in the Western intercultural communication literature. The study describes an 8-week intercultural communication course designed by a Peace Corps volunteer for 5th year university students studying English at a Ukrainian pedagogical university. Specifically, the study focused on what the students knew about intercultural communication before the course, how the students foresaw using the skills they gained from the course, and what can be done to make the course more applicable to future 5th year students at the same university.

In addition to describing the context of the course (i.e. Ukraine, Krivoy Rog, the Ukrainian Education System, and Krivoy Rog State Pedagogical University) three forms of qualitative data provided the material for this case study: interviews with professors, two interviews with students, and answers from student assignments.

The case study revealed that students had some knowledge of intercultural communication topics, such as nonverbal communication. Most students thought they would apply the intercultural communication skills and theories they learned to their lives, and most plan to use what they learned when communicating with foreigners. Some students identified how they will use what they learned when they communicate with their family and friends. The case study suggests that more time, more visual material, and more assignments that give students a chance to apply the theories and skills would enhance the course and make it more relevant to other students in similar situations.

Disciplines

Higher Education Administration | International and Comparative Education | International and Intercultural Communication

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