Educational Research and Reviews

  • Abbreviation: Educ. Res. Rev.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1990-3839
  • DOI: 10.5897/ERR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 2008

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring intercultural competence in teacher education: A comparative study between science and foreign language teacher trainers

Kadriye Dilek Akpinar1*
  • Kadriye Dilek Akpinar1*
  • 1Gazi University, Faculty of Education, Foreign Languages Teaching Department, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Google Scholar
and Ihsan Unaldi2
  • and Ihsan Unaldi2
  • 2Gaziantep University, Faculty of Education, Foreign Languages Teaching Department, Gaziantep, Turkey
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 27 May 2014
  •  Accepted: 15 October 2014
  •  Published: 10 November 2014

Abstract

This study investigated the intercultural outcomes of short-term study visit programs for Foreign Language and Science teacher trainers. A mixed method including quantitative and qualitative data was used to compare the differences between the two groups’ intercultural development in terms of their study field. Fantini’s questionnaire was used for the quantitative data and as for qualitative data individual interviews were conducted. The results indicate significant differences in the formation of intercultural competence between the foreign language and science teacher trainers in terms of their study field.  Outcomes will be discussed regarding the professional development of the educators in higher education.

 

Key words: Higher education, intercultural competence, study visit.