Pedagogies of engagement: Creating spaces to enhance undergraduate students’ intercultural competence through community involvement

Abstract

In an increasingly globalized and interconnected world, it has become critical for higher education institutions to implement initiatives that promote the development of intercultural competence and community engagement with the aim of preparing students to contribute to society. This phenomenological study explores how undergraduate students who are learners of Spanish as a foreign language perceived an experience of service-learning and the impact it had on their intercultural competence.  Participants were undergraduate students at a public university in the United States who completed a Hispanic culture course.  The course included a service-learning component with members of local Spanish-speaking immigrant communities. Drawing from document analysis and interviews, three main themes emerged: civic engagement, cultural interaction and awareness, and lifelong learning. Beyond an educational and linguistic development opportunity, all participants recognized the positive impact of service-learning on their perception of and relationship with local Spanish-speaking communities, their own civic responsibilities, and the use of Spanish as a bridge to increase their engagement in social advocacy. Besides expanding on the literature available on the interconnection between service-learning and the enhancement of intercultural competence, this study provides information for faculty members interested in developing practical learning opportunities for students as they make decisions related to course content.