Improving Intercultural Education at Chinese Institutions from German Experience

Journal of International Students. 4005 Spurgeon Drive #6, Monroe, LA 71203. Tel: 318-600-5743; Fax: 318-342-3131; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://jistudents.org

Y

3

Multicultural Education; International Education; Foreign Countries; Educational Improvement; Second Language Learning; Study Abroad; Educational Experience; Second Language Instruction; Seminars; Grants; Intercultural Communication; Skill Development; Universities; Higher Education; Comparative Education; Educational Policy; Foreign Students; Cultural Awareness

China; Germany

2162-3104

In this reflection paper, Lihe Huang describes his experience studying abroad in Germany as a visiting scholar. Through the well-designed introductory seminar and study tour arranged by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which provided the grant for Huang's research on foreign languages teaching and intercultural education in Germany, he familiarized myself with many facts related to the social, economic, political, cultural and historical situation in Germany. He sought to enrich himself with deeper exposure to his new intercultural settings by making efforts to venture out and explore the country and other European countries to gain a better understanding of the cultures. In addition, he learned a great deal during his one-year appointment about how German higher education integrates itself into the process of internationalization while keeping its own traditions. Today, great emphasis on intercultural education is advocated at Chinese universities as the importance of cultivating greater numbers of globally-aware individuals has become a priority. The establishment of the global vision and the improvement of intercultural communication skills demand students to acquire basic intercultural knowledge, global awareness, attitudes to respect multiculturalism, and common values in different cultures. Germany's approach to the internationalization of higher education helps students to function competitively around the world, and better understanding the German approach has framed Huang's research, in which he examines how China can benefit from understanding the German experience. Herein, he provides a brief glimpse into his comparative investigation of the University of Cologne and University of Bremen with regard to improving students' intercultural competence, and of these universities and his home university in China regarding international strategy and policy; service for international students; intercultural competence training; building of campus diversity; and intercultural activities organization.

ERIC

2

2015

EJ1060109