Bethany Peters, Ph.D., ACC

A practical, interactive text designed to support intercultural development for international students studying in the U.S. Topics covered include cultural identity, communication styles, academic culture, intercultural friendships, and strategies to become more culturally aware. The intended audiences for this book are international students studying in IEPs, in university bridge or pathway programs, or at colleges and universities in the United States. It may also be used by new-student… Show more

A practical, interactive text designed to support intercultural development for international students studying in the U.S. Topics covered include cultural identity, communication styles, academic culture, intercultural friendships, and strategies to become more culturally aware. The intended audiences for this book are international students studying in IEPs, in university bridge or pathway programs, or at colleges and universities in the United States. It may also be used by new-student orientation programs or by student services offices that provide intercultural training for students, staff, and faculty who work with international students. Show less

Research demonstrates that students who are most effective at acquiring English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) are those who can demonstrate mastery of not just the technical aspects of the language, but also the ability to engage in intercultural interactions with communicative competence (Xue, 2014). However, engaging in intercultural interactions can prove to be a difficult and tedious experience for most students (Peters, 2018; Peters & Anderson, 2021). In this chapter, we… Show more

Research demonstrates that students who are most effective at acquiring English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) are those who can demonstrate mastery of not just the technical aspects of the language, but also the ability to engage in intercultural interactions with communicative competence (Xue, 2014). However, engaging in intercultural interactions can prove to be a difficult and tedious experience for most students (Peters, 2018; Peters & Anderson, 2021). In this chapter, we respond to this issue in the field of English language teaching and advocate for an intercultural curricular focus that complements English language instruction and incorporates practical applications from intercultural theories such as intercultural competence (Deardorff, 2006) and intercultural sensitivity (Bennett, 1986) in ways that are relatable and actionable in students’ daily lives. Show less

In many cases, faculty and staff are unaware of the unique challenges that international students experience in classrooms, and teaching priorities may not be aligned with the learning needs. To address the gap in perspectives between students and faculty/staff, this focus group study involved international students, staff, faculty and instructors. The purpose is to identify barriers that international students face in cross-cultural interaction and develop strategies that faculty and staff can… Show more

In many cases, faculty and staff are unaware of the unique challenges that international students experience in classrooms, and teaching priorities may not be aligned with the learning needs. To address the gap in perspectives between students and faculty/staff, this focus group study involved international students, staff, faculty and instructors. The purpose is to identify barriers that international students face in cross-cultural interaction and develop strategies that faculty and staff can use to provide effective support. Show less

This study reports on a survey designed to understand the experiences of faculty and staff who work with non-native speakers of English (NNESs) at a U.S. public research university. Over 1,500 faculty and staff responded to the survey, and the findings highlight their perspectives on the benefits of having non-native English speakers on campus, as well as the challenges that they experience in teaching and advising this population of students.