Study Abroad as a Cultural Competence Development Tool: Case Study Honduras

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
First Online:
  • 2 Downloads

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to acquire an in-depth understanding of a study abroad experience from a sample of eight participants using a case study approach. The theoretical framework was based on the Multidimensional Model of Cultural Competence (Sue and Sue 2003) and Relational Counseling Theory (RCT; Comstock et al. 2008). Program documentation, journal entries, and a follow-up survey were analyzed. Findings indicated that the study abroad program enhanced the cultural competence development of the participants. The importance of exposure and growth-fostering relationships, influences that the study abroad experiences may have on social justice and advocacy, and potential use of RCT in international counseling were highlighted.

Keywords

Study abroad Cultural competence Qualitative case study International counseling Multiculturalism Honduras 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access

Notes

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Alexander, C. M., Krucsek, T., & Ponterotto, J. (2005). Building multicultural competencies in school counselor trainees: An international immersion experience. Counselor Education and Supervision, 44, 255–266.  https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6978.2005.tb01754.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. American Counseling Association. (2014). Code of ethics. Alexandria: Author.Google Scholar
  3. Anderson, P. H., Lawton, L., Rexeisen, R. J., & Hubbard, A. C. (2006). Short-term study abroad and intercultural sensitivity: A pilot study. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 30, 457–469.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2005.10.004.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Arthur, N., & Achenback, K. (2002). Developing multicultural counseling competencies through experiential learning. Counselor Education and Supervision, 42, 2–14.  https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6978.2002.tb01299.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Baruth, L. G., & Manning, M. L. (2007). Multicultural counseling and psychotherapy: A lifespan perspective (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education Inc..Google Scholar
  6. Brockington, J. L., Hoffa, W. W., Marin, P. C. (2005). NAFSA’s guide to education abroad for advisers and administrators (3rd ed). Washington, DC: NAFSA: Association of International Educators.Google Scholar
  7. Canfield, B. S., Low, L., & Hovestadt, A. (2009). Cultural immersion as a learning method for expanding intercultural competencies. The Family Journal, 17, 318.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480709347359.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Cassey, D., & Houghton, C. (2010). Clarifying case study research: Examples from practice. Nurse Researcher, 17(3), 41–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Comstock, D. L., Hammer, T. R., Strentzsch, J., Cannon, K., Parsons, J., & Salazar, G. (2008). Relational-cultural theory: A framework for bridging relational, multicultural, and social justice competencies. Journal of Counseling and Development, 86, 279–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs. (2008). 2008 CACREP standards. Alexandria: Author.Google Scholar
  11. Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs. (2016). 2016 CACREP standards. Alexandria: Author.Google Scholar
  12. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc..Google Scholar
  13. Duffey, T., & Somody, C. (2011). The role of relational-cultural theory in mental health counseling. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 33(3), 223–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Glockshuber, E. (2005). Counsellors' self-perceived multicultural competencies model. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling, 7(4), 291–308.  https://doi.org/10.1080/13642530500367894.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Hall, K. G., Barden, S., & Conley, A. (2014). A relational-cultural framework: Emphasizing relational dynamics and multicultural skill development. The Professional Counselor, 4, 71–83.  https://doi.org/10.15241/kgh.4.1.71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Jaoko, J. (2010). Study abroad: Enhanced learning experience in cultural diversity. College Quarterly, 13(4). Retrieved from http://www.collegequarterly.ca/2010-vol13-num04-fall/jaoko.html.
  17. Jurgens, J. C., & McAuliffe, G. (2004). Short-term study-abroad experience in Ireland: An exercise in cross-cultural counseling. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 26, 147–161.  https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ADCO.0000027427.76422.1f.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Kottler, J. A. (2003). Transformative travel: International counselling in action. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 24, 207–210.  https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023364628260. Google Scholar
  19. Leung, S. A. (2003). A journey worth traveling: Globalization of counseling psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 31, 412–419.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000003254634. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (2000). Paradigmatic controversies, contradictions, and emerging confluences. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The handbook of qualitative research (2nd ed., pp. 163–188). Beverly Hills: Sage.Google Scholar
  21. Litchtman, M. (2013). Qualitative research in education: A user’s guide (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc..Google Scholar
  22. McDowell, T., Goessling, K., & Melendez, T. (2012). Transformative learning through international immersion: Building multicultural competence in family therapy and counseling. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38, 365–379.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2010.00209.x.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  23. Merriam, S. B. (2009). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Google Scholar
  24. Merriam, S. B. (2002). Qualitative research in practice: Examples for discussion and analysis. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Google Scholar
  25. Mindrup, R. M., Spray, B. J., & Lamberghini-West, A. (2011). White privilege and multicultural counseling competence: The influence of field of study, sex, and racial/ethnic exposure. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 20, 20–38.  https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2011.545942.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Ng, K., Choudhuri, D. D., Noonan, B. M., & Ceballos, P. (2012). An internationalization competency checklist for American counseling training programs. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 34, 19–38.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-011-9141-5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Ng, K., & Noonan, B. M. (2012). Internationalization of the counseling profession: Meaning, scope and concerns. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 34, 5–18.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-011-9144-2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Patton, M. Q. (1999). Enhancing the quality and credibility of qualitative analysis. Health Services Research, 34(5 Pt 2), 1189–1208.PubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  29. Pope-Davis, D. B., Breaux, C., & Liu, W. M. (1997). A multicultural immersion experience: Filling a void in multicultural training. In D. B. Pope-Davis & H. L. K. Coleman (Eds.), Multicultural counseling competencies: Assessment, education, training and supervision (pp. 227–241). Tthousand Oaks: Sage.Google Scholar
  30. Prosek, E. A., & Michel, R. E. (2016). Transformative learning for counselor trainees: Implementation of the multicultural immersion experience model. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 38, 61–76.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-015-9256-1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Santos, S. D. (2014). A comprehensive model for developing and evaluating study abroad programs in counselor education. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 36, 332–347.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-014-9210-7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Shenton, A. K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22, 63–75.  https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-2004-22201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. Smith-Augustine, S., Dowden, A., Wiggins, A., & Hall, L. (2014). International immersion in Belize: Fostering counseling student’s cultural self-awareness. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 36, 468–484.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-014-9219-y.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Spath, R., & Pine, B. (2004). Using the case study approach for improved programme evaluations. Child and Family Social Work, 9, 57–63.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2004.00310.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Stake, R. E. (1995). The art of case study research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.Google Scholar
  36. Sue, D. W. (2001). Multidimensional facets of cultural competence. The Counseling Psychologist, 29, 790–821.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000001296002.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2003). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (4th ed.). New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
  38. The Forum on Education Abroad (2009). Standards of good practice: For short-term education abroad programs. Retrieved from http://www.forumea.org/documents/ForumEAStandardsShortTermProg.pdf.
  39. Thompson, C. E., & Neville, H. A. (1999). Racism, mental health, and mental health practice. The Counseling Psychologist, 27, 155–223.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000099272001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. Tomlinson-Clarke, S. (2013). Multicultural counseling competencies: Extending multicultural training paradigms toward globalization. VISTAS 2013. Retrieved from http://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/vistas.
  41. West-Olatunji, C., Goodman, R. D., Mehta, S., & Templeton, L. (2011). Creating cultural competence: An outreach immersion experience in southern Africa. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 33, 335–346.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-011-9138-0.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Wilson, A. D., & Taylor, L. K. (2013). An international study abroad experience in a counseling education doctoral cohort. Journal for International Counselor Education, 5(1), 14–31.Google Scholar
  43. Ying, R. K. (2014). Case study research: Design and methods (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Interdisciplinary ProfessionsEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleUSA
  2. 2.Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human DevelopmentNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighUSA

Personalised recommendations