Perspectives on the Development of Intercultural Sensitivity among University Students Receiving Intercultural Communication Education at the Crossroads of Three Countries

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Makale detayları

Perspectives on the Development of Intercultural Sensitivity among University Students Receiving Intercultural Communication Education at the Crossroads of Three Countries

Yazarlar:

Recep Altay

Yayıncı:

Akdeniz University

Ana Başlıklar:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Akdeniz Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 49, pp.148-171

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357660

pISSN:

2619-9718

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Intercultural communication is important as it enables effective and meaningful interaction between different cultures. Intercultural sensitivity, which facilitates individuals to act effectively in different cultural contexts and become global citizens, is considered essential in terms of communication competence. This study aims to examine the positions of students taking the intercultural communication course at Iğdır University within the intercultural sensitivity development model and the impact of the course on their development. Located in the easternmost part of Türkiye and sharing land borders with three countries Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Iran, Iğdır is a city where people from diverse cultures live together. Indeed, determining the intercultural sensitivity levels of university students who are in direct contact with this diversity highlights the significance of the study. In this context, a thematic analysis was conducted on the evaluation texts written by students before and after in-class and field activities based on Milton J. Bennetts Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity. In the study conducted with 45 participants, it was found that one-third of the participants n15 perceived themselves at the defense stage of the sensitivity development model before receiving intercultural communication training. The reason for this is mainly attributed to prejudices, stereotypes, and a lack of cultural interaction. After the 14-week training, most of the students in the follow-up evaluation texts were found to have transitioned from the ethno-centric stage to the ethno-relative stage, linking this shift to in-class activities and field interactions.

 Intercultural communication is important as it enables effective and meaningful interaction between different cultures. Intercultural sensitivity, which facilitates individuals to act effectively in different cultural contexts and become global citizens, is considered essential in terms of communication competence. This study aims to examine the positions of students taking the intercultural communication course at Iğdır University within the intercultural sensitivity development model and the impact of the course on their development. Located in the easternmost part of Türkiye and sharing land borders with three countries Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Iran, Iğdır is a city where people from diverse cultures live together. Indeed, determining the intercultural sensitivity levels of university students who are in direct contact with this diversity highlights the significance of the study. In this context, a thematic analysis was conducted on the evaluation texts written by students before and after in-class and field activities based on Milton J. Bennetts Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity. In the study conducted with 45 participants, it was found that one-third of the participants n15 perceived themselves at the defense stage of the sensitivity development model before receiving intercultural communication training. The reason for this is mainly attributed to prejudices, stereotypes, and a lack of cultural interaction. After the 14-week training, most of the students in the follow-up evaluation texts were found to have transitioned from the ethno-centric stage to the ethno-relative stage, linking this shift to in-class activities and field interactions.

 Intercultural communication is important as it enables effective and meaningful interaction between different cultures. Intercultural sensitivity, which facilitates individuals to act effectively in different cultural contexts and become global citizens, is considered essential in terms of communication competence. This study aims to examine the positions of students taking the intercultural communication course at Iğdır University within the intercultural sensitivity development model and the impact of the course on their development. Located in the easternmost part of Türkiye and sharing land borders with three countries Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Iran, Iğdır is a city where people from diverse cultures live together. Indeed, determining the intercultural sensitivity levels of university students who are in direct contact with this diversity highlights the significance of the study. In this context, a thematic analysis was conducted on the evaluation texts written by students before and after in-class and field activities based on Milton J. Bennetts Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity. In the study conducted with 45 participants, it was found that one-third of the participants n15 perceived themselves at the defense stage of the sensitivity development model before receiving intercultural communication training. The reason for this is mainly attributed to prejudices, stereotypes, and a lack of cultural interaction. After the 14-week training, most of the students in the follow-up evaluation texts were found to have transitioned from the ethno-centric stage to the ethno-relative stage, linking this shift to in-class activities and field interactions.

 Kültürlerarası iletişim, farklı kültürler arasında etkili ve anlamlı etkileşimi mümkün kıldığı için önemlidir. Bireylerin farklı kültürel bağlamlarda etkili bir şekilde hareket etmelerini ve küresel vatandaşlar olmalarını kolaylaştıran kültürlerarası duyarlılık ise iletişim yeterliliği anlamında gerekli görülmektedir. Bu araştırma, Iğdır Üniversitesinde kültürlerarası iletişim dersi alan öğrencilerin, duyarlılık gelişim modelindeki konumlarını ve eğitimin bu gelişime etkisini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Türkiyenin en doğusunda yer alan ve üç ülkeye Azerbaycan-Ermenistan-İran kara sınırı bulunan Iğdır, farklı kültürlere sahip insanların bir arada yaşadığı bir şehirdir. Nitekim bu çeşitlilikle doğrudan temas hâlinde olan üniversite öğrencilerinin kültürlerarası duyarlılık gelişimlerini belirlemek, araştırmanın önemini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu kapsamda, Milton J. Bennettin Kültürlerarası Duyarlılık Gelişim Modeli üzerinde gerçekleştirilen sınıf içi ve saha etkinlikleri öncesi ve sonrasında öğrencilerin yazmış oldukları değerlendirme metinlerinin tematik analizi yapılmıştır. 45 kişiyle yapılan araştırmada, kültürlerarası iletişim eğitimi almadan önce katılımcıların üçte biri n15 kendilerini duyarlılık gelişim modelinin savunma basamağında gördükleri anlaşılmaktadır. Zira bunun nedeni olarak ise ön yargılar, stereotipler ve kültürel etkileşim eksikliği ön plana çıkmıştır. 14 haftalık eğitimin ardından tekrar istenen değerlendirme metinlerinde öğrencilerin büyük bir çoğunluğu etnomerkezcilikten, etnogörecelik basamağına geçiş yaptıkları ve bunu ders içi etkinlik ve saha temaslarına bağladıkları tespit edilmiştir.

Makale detayları

Perspectives on the Development of Intercultural Sensitivity among University Students Receiving Intercultural Communication Education at the Crossroads of Three Countries

Yazarlar:

Recep Altay

Yayıncı:

Akdeniz University

Ana Başlıklar:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Akdeniz Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 49, pp.148-171

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357660

pISSN:

2619-9718

Intercultural Communication Training

Bennet Model

Intercultural Sensitivity

Ethnocentrism

IğdırKültürlerarası İletişim Eğitimi

Bennet Modeli

Kültürlerarası Duyarlılık

Etnomerkezcilik

Iğdır

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Recep Altay

Yayıncı: Akdeniz University

Ana Başlıklar: İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi: Akdeniz Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 49, pp.148-171

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 8/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001357660

pISSN: 2619-9718

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Recep Altay

Yayıncı:

Akdeniz University

Ana Başlıklar:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Akdeniz Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 49, pp.148-171

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357660

pISSN:

2619-9718