The purpose of this study was to train first year psychology students to establish intercultural competencies using EXCELL (Excellence in Cultural Experiential Learning and Leadership).
Method
The participants included 94 psychology students who were taking psychology 101 from the University of Canberra in Australia. A majority of the students identified with being from Australia. Students were asked to complete an online survey about their education, background and cultural learning measure. Cultural learning measure questions assessed students' understanding of intercultural competence. There were some training incorporated into the first year of college. The training included alliance building and cultural mapping. Alliance building exercise was used in the beginning of the semester to build critical self-reflections. This helps the students have a better understanding of themselves. Cultural mapping exercise included a two hour face-to-face session and included an EXCELL cultural mapping and was used toward the end of the semester. The students broke down into smaller groups and each group was given a different exercise. All the exercises had the students approach and talk to someone, and then make a request. The request would be the same for every group, but the group was different cultures and different ages. At the end of the study, the students were asked to take a post survey to …show more content…
The students felt better prepared to work with clients from other cultures and have a better understanding different cultures. Also many students have gained a better understanding of how culture plays a part in their chosen field of study. There was a problem with students not doing the correct groups they were assigned to with the cultural mapping. Some groups crossed out Aboriginal woman and chose to work on different group instead.