Cultural Immersion as a Learning Method for Expanding Intercultural Competencies

Abstract

This article presents an overview of the development and utilization of a cultural immersion experience assignment in courses that focus on expanding the knowledge and skill set of counselors and other counseling professionals for working with culturally diverse client populations. The utility of this method and specific suggestions for its use in three instructional formats: traditional on-campus courses, study-abroad program courses, and 100% Internet-based courses are examined.

International Immersion in Counselor Education: A Consensual Qualitative Research Investigation

“…In summary, researchers (e.g., Alexander et al, ; Canfield et al, ; Crawford et al, ; Tomlinson‐Clarke & Clarke, ) have consistently found positive benefits of immersion experiences in developing helping professionals, but have primarily evaluated only the immediate and relatively short‐term personal and professional impacts. Results from this current study fill a gap in the literature and provide support for the sustained influence of immersion experiences on counselor development over time.…”

“…The counseling profession emphasizes diversity training in preparation standards (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs [CACREP], ) and cultural competence in ethical standards (American Counseling Association, ). Nevertheless, counselor preparation programs may not use the most effective pedagogical strategies to promote their students' counseling competencies to provide services to clients from diverse backgrounds (Canfield, Low, & Hovestadt, ; Coleman, ; DeRicco & Sciarra, ). Traditional pedagogy in multicultural education primarily focuses on developing and increasing knowledge and skills for working with culturally diverse others.…”

International Cultural Immersion: Assessing the Influence of a Group Intervention on Intercultural Sensitivity for Counselor Trainees

“…Researchers (e.g., Alexander et al, 2005;Barden & Cashwell, 2014;Burnett et al, 2004;Canfield, Low, & Hovestadt, 2009;TomlinsonClarke & Clarke, 2010) have reported positive benefits of immersion experiences in developing helping professionals. However, results have been primarily qualitative and/or relied on anecdotal evidence such as participants' journals.…”

The Lived Experience of Cultural Immersion

“…Cultural immersion experiences require participants to engage in activities with, or provide services to, a cultural community different from their own over an extended period of time (DeRicco & Sciarra, 2005; Ishii, Gilbride, & Stensrud, 2009; Pope‐Davis et al, 1997). It is believed that the interpersonal contact that occurs during the immersion experience promotes affective and behavioral growth in counseling students and simultaneously provides students with insight into the lives of diverse communities (Canfield et al, 2009; Tomlinson‐Clarke & Clarke, 2010). Cultural immersion projects typically require some form of self‐reflection, which is believed to increase self‐awareness (Canfield et al, 2009; Pope‐Davis et al, 1997).…”

“…Cultural immersion experiences require participants to have interactions with a cultural community that is different from their own (Pope‐Davis et al, 1997). The limited research that exists on cultural immersion indicates that participation in these experiences results in increased understanding of diverse communities, promotion of self‐awareness, and reduced biases (Alexander, Kruczek, & Ponterotto, 2005; Canfield, Low, & Hovestadt, 2009; DeRicco & Sciarra, 2005). However, Canfield et al (2009) called for research to identify the elements of the cultural immersion experience that promote growth and understanding in counselors‐in‐training.…”