Beyond Tourism

If young people are to be adequately prepared for a complex and interdependent global society, educational experiences must consider the broader world in which teachers and their students live. Teachers can be central to the process of intercultural development, and must encourage and model an intercultural orientation for their young students as well as for their communities. A critical dimension of achieving intercultural understanding and competence is personal experience. In Beyond Tourism, Kenneth Cushner examines the development of intercultural competence through various dimensions of student travel and intercultural encounters, both for the classroom teacher conducting group travel as well as individuals embarking upon student exchange programs, intensive summer experiences, and international student teaching. The author examines: aspects of cross-cultural orientation, trip planning and preparation, intercultural adjustment, in-country experience and post-experience impact through his experiences of organizing and leading international and intercultural educational programs for children, pre-service, and in-service teachers on all seven continents. Cushner integrates current research on the intercultural experience and relates it to his personal travel experiences while providing guidelines to enable educators to integrate reflective travel as an active part of the educational experience of young people. Multicultural, social studies, and foreign language teachers, international educators and study abroad officers, and those interested in experiential education will find this book invaluable.

International educators frequently seek intercultural competence as an outcome of study abroad. What this involves is developing in the sojourners a mindset of global knowledge, a skillset for interactions, and a heartset of respectful curiosity. Ken Cushner takes us on a journey where we can experience such approaches to study abroad through both his stories as well as his academic insights. He exemplifies putting 'theory into practice' as he illustrates for the leaders of travel adventures the warm reality and meaningful challenges they will face. For the students or participants on study abroad, his conceptual frameworks provide a substantive new way to view their impending experience. And for the interculturalist, his perspective reveals the underlying structure of the seemingly effortless experience of other cultures. He indeed shows the reader the way to develop intercultural competence., Cushner examines the development of intercultural competence through various dimensions of student travel. He explores such issues as cross-cultural orientation, trip planning and preparation, and intercultural adjustment, drawing on his own experiences organizing and leading international and intercultural education programs., Kenneth Cushner's activities in international education have been extensive. He has done research, has taught in other countries, has participated in the development of international curricula, and has led groups of students to many different countries. Ican think of no better person to guide educators, and their students, through the challenges and benefits of international travellll, Kenneth Cushner's activities in international education have been extensive. He has done research, has taught in other countries, has participated in the development of international curricula, and has led groups of students to many different countries. I can think of no better person to guide educators, and their students, through the challenges and benefits of international travel

Kenneth Cushner is associate dean of Student Life and Intercultural Affairs in the Kent State University College and Graduate School of Education. He is a frequent contributor to the professional development of educators through consulting, writing, workshops, and travel programming. Ken is author or co-author of numerous such books and articles, including Human Diversity in Education: An Integrative Approach, 4th ed. and Intercultural Interactions: A Practical Guide, 2nd ed..