The road less traveled Cross-cultural, international experiential learning

TLDR

The study aimed to develop bilingual, culturally competent social workers. Participants engaged in a 21‑day exchange program that combined 10 days of language and cultural immersion with visits to social service agencies and regional campuses. The program produced measurable gains in cultural competence, confirmed by both objective scores and qualitative journal entries.

Abstract

Social work faculty and students from a university in the southeastern US participated in a 21-day exchange program with a university in Mexico. The experience involved 10 days of language and cultural immersion, concurrent exposure to social service agencies, and an additional week of visits to regional social work campuses. Goals included developing bilingual, culturally competent social workers. Objective measures for cultural competence showed gains in scores which were supported by qualitative data gathered through the use of journals. Results indicated gains in cultural competence with many gains for future efforts.