Intercultural Learning: Critical preparation for international student travel

Reviewed by Mary Gitau, Associate Professor of Social Work, Clarke University on 12/22/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The textbook is authored by scholars with expertise and experience facilitating international student exchange programs. The book addresses key aspects that are critical when engaging with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Each of the five modules are well written and includes key terms, videos, and learning resources. It challenges those planning to engage in international travel to learn about themselves and examine their own privileges as well as the need to understand the history and continuing impact of imperialism on cultural diversity.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Even though the authors are looking at different aspects from Australian perspective, the content is applicable to different context given the way the authors present the information. Similar challenges are encountered by educators from North America whose students need to learn about other cultures they will engage with, examine their own self in terms of cultural competence and be prepared to learn from others.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content is up to date based on how the information is presented. The text is well written, and I believe it would be easy to update the information with ease. Faculty and students who participate in global/international short-term study will find this book as an invaluable resource.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is written in language that would keep students engaged and the videos were created with students who experienced intercultural field work or travel. This makes it relatable to those who are reading. The context is clearly written without complex aspects that are hard to comprehend.

Consistency rating: 5

The book uses consistent formatting in each of the modules and provides a narration of the modules via video. Each of the modules has a distinct learning goal and take away at the end. Thus, it is easy for the reader to know what to expect from each of the modules and how it connects to the previous section. I would say there is international consistency.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller sections. The authors break the book into five modules starting from the importance of understanding culture and going all the way to intercultural practice.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book is well organized and each of the modules build onto the next. Each of the modules has a distinct learning goal, key terms, and learning resources.

Interface rating: 4

The text has no interface issues or navigation problems. One thing I noted however was that in at least one of the videos, it was hard to hear the speakers (panelists). It would be good if the authors can go back and ensures all the video as clear.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Even though some words are spelt differently in Australian English when compared to American English, text contains for no grammatical or sentence structural errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This book is written from a cross-cultural competency perspective and would prepare students as they engage with different cultures and navigate different cultural context. The book is written in a way that would help students acquire insight on the knowledge, values, and skills required when working across cultures.

Comments

As an educator who has led international short-term study travels for college students, I would consider using this book as I prepare student for the cross-cultural engagement.

Reviewed by Mandy Reinig, Director of Study Away, Virginia Wesleyan University on 5/5/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book did an excellent job of covering the topic of intercultural learning. Additionally, it included a resource section for each module as well as a section on key terms with definitions for each term. The integrated videos also assisted in clarifying the topics being discussed.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I was extremely pleased with the content of this book and am looking to incorporate it into my pre-departure class for my study abroad students. I liked how they incorporated topics I have been working toward but haven't been able to do and they did it in an interactive way. They were teaching the learner to look at culture from a different lens. It can never be complete unbiased, due to human nature, but it can be done without judgment.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Even though this book is not from the last couple of years, its materials are extremely relevant. If necessary it can be supplemented with current events or with specific host country events/information. However, it is presented in such a way that there is not country specific information that would need to be updated. U.S. educators do need to be aware that these are Australian educators but most of the information still remains valid and can be updated as needed to reflect a U.S. educational system.

Clarity rating: 5

I enjoyed that there is text mixed with videos. I think that my students will appreciate this as well as I find that they are not as fond of reading heavy journal articles. This provides them similar information but in a more student friendly manner. The key term index, at the end, also helps define any information that the student may not understand.

Consistency rating: 5

The authors do remain intentionally consistent with their terminology through the book and even refer back to the terms they mentioned earlier, later in the book to maintain this consistency. The book maintains its frame of reference from beginning to end.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is divided into 5 modules and each module into smaller units that are broken down and include videos and other information to make it easy to understand. The authors did a great job identifying key concepts and presenting them in an organized fashion.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The modules of the book flow well from one to the other and build upon each other in a logical manner.

Interface rating: 4

Overall the interface was great and I loved the integrated videos. Sometimes the video links did not work within the module pages but they work in the resource page. What I would have liked is if there was a back button or a return button of some sort that would take me back to the module I was in after viewing the video and after viewing the resource section for each module rather than needing to scroll through all the pages to get to where I needed to be. Other than this, the graphics were clear and the videos worked great.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text appeared to be free of grammatical and spelling errors and was well-written.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

As this book is about culture and talks about race, cultural sensitivity, cultural reflection and more, I would say this book is extremely inclusive and one of its purposes is to teach students to be more inclusive and open as they prepare to venture abroad. It takes on difficult subjects and finds a way to talk about them with openness and clarity so that students are able to have a more meaningful experience abroad.

Comments

This book is something I have been searching for for quite some time. It covers many of the topics I either cover or have wanting to cover in my study abroad pre-departure course. I am going to be working to incorporate this book, as well as some of my other materials, into the next semester's class. I love the videos and reflection activities and the student perspectives that are interspersed throughout the modules. This is an excellent book for teaching students about intercultural learning and cultural sensitivity.

Reviewed by Karen Easterday, Instructor, Community College of Aurora on 8/13/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The purpose of the text is to provide students who participate in international educational exchange programs with a framework to more critically examine and reflect on their preparation and experiences. The end goal is a deeper reflection on culture and cultural context. The manner in which this is accomplished is inclusive and engaging.

While the target group for the course is students who plan to go on international educational exchange programs, the course content could be adapted for use with students at any institution to facilitate learning in any number of disciplines. Students could examine culture and cultural context and connect their knowledge and skills to classes in their fields of study and to their careers and jobs.

The content is comprehensive and includes Instructions for the Learner, Learning Strategies (Engage, Discuss, Revise/Reflect and Resources for Further Learning), Learning Goals and Learning Tools (Key Terms, Learning Resources, References).
Information about the academic team of professors and students who teach and participate in the course are described, making it appealing to other students and instructors.

Each module defines the learning goal, has a video related to the topic, contains content including highlighted points and learning activities, and includes links to articles, videos, and other learning resources.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content is inclusive and unbiased, and it considers a wide range of viewpoints. The content challenges learners to examine their own knowledge and beliefs. The learning activities support the learning goals. The authors bring their expertise to the course while using their knowledge and skills to engage students in active learning, self-reflection, and the practical application of concepts to students' studies, careers and lives.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content is relevant and presents historical information, research and a perspective of the topic as well as current information, views, and perspectives.

Clarity rating: 5

The writing and content are clear. There are clear explanations of terminology supported by examples of the terms used in different contexts and situations.

Consistency rating: 5

The text has a consistent framework and explanation of key terms. Each module has the same
presentation of content and inclusion of terms as well as learning activities, resources and references.

Modularity rating: 5

Each module has different sections of content related to the learning goals that include various learning activities that can be used separately during the course or that could be adapted to other courses.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The text lists the welcome module and all modules with titles as well as key terms, learning resources and references across the top of all of the pages. The organization enhances the ability to easily move between modules, key terms, resources, and references horizontally as well as scrolling up and down vertically to access content. In each module, the page numbers can be clicked on for easy access of movement within each module.

Interface rating: 5

Navigation within the course is smooth with no problems with displays features.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The course material is professionally presented and lacks errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The content is culturally relevant and inclusive with visually appealing images of people from various countries and cultures. The content is student-centered and focused on active learning. The content lends itself to differentiated learning and various learning styles.

Comments

The learning tools focus on engagement, self-reflection and critical thinking, and those tools encourage deeper thinking and learning through further reading and exploration.

Accessibility:
The video links within the text are not all active, but instructions are provided to go to the full link in the References section for access.
Not all of the videos appear to have closed captions.
Full features within the text work with Adobe Acrobat but not in Preview on a MacBook.

Reviewed by Dr. Ali-Sha Alleman, Assistant Professor, Radford University on 1/25/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The text covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately and provides an effective index and glossary. The text does a great job providing a comprehensive definition of culture. There are multiple examinations of differences and similarities of defining culture.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content appears to be accurate, error free and unbiased.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content is up-to date and will not become obsolete within a short period of time. The text is written and arranged so that updates can be made easily.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is written in lucid, accessible prose, and provides context for any jargon/terminology used. It was an engaging read!

Consistency rating: 4

The text is consistent for the most part in terms of terminology and framework. The text indicates the use of a Critical theory framework which is consistent with all the supportive material. There are references to other frameworks, but only Critical theory seems evident.

Modularity rating: 5

Each module helps to examine intercultural learning through a critical lens. Students learn about themselves and other cultures through a reflective process. Pedagogical devices such as embedded videos help the reader understand the intent of the modules. The Key Point features highlight critical ideas the text is explaining which is underscored by an eye-catching graphic.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Each module uses a universal approach to learning by incorporating an introductory video, short discussion topic, key point, embedded videos, graphics and reflection tasks that help students process information. Topics are presented in a logical way that build upon each other. The Learning Resource page lists video links to Ted Talks related to module topics.

Interface rating: 5

The text is free of significant interface issues. The presentation of the material was very clean and straight forward. This is a beautiful looking book!

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text was free of grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The authors have extensive international immersion experience. The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way.It makes use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races. The faculty in the videos were culturally diverse. The students featured in the embedded videos were all Australian there wasn't any representation from the United States. Despite that fact, the text does a great job conducting a critical examination of cultural diversity and privilege. One of the strengths of the text is its application of concepts in terms of interaction with other cultures internationally and locally. The text goes in-depth with examining plurality of cultures avoiding generalizations and challenging intercultural competence. The emphasis of this text is a deep dive self exploration prior to student international travel.

Comments

I enjoyed reading this textbook. I will use this book in preparation for taking social work students to Uganda. There are so many essential points made that are critical to preparing students for intercultural travel.

Reviewed by Deanna Koepke, Assistant Professor, University of Providence on 1/2/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

very thorough

Content Accuracy rating: 4

information is presented well

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

While this subject matter can frequently change, this book presents material in a way that is relevant in a foundational way.

Clarity rating: 5

very easy to understand

Consistency rating: 5

good work on terminology

Modularity rating: 5

easy to digest

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

very nicely done

Interface rating: 5

no problems encountered

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

good work

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

culturally appropriate

Comments

This book fills a need I didn't even realize I had! I am taking a group of students to Egypt in December 2020 and this will be the perfect text to accompany the classwork we will do before getting on the plane. Well done!

Reviewed by Andrea Duffy, Director of International Studies, Colorado State University on 10/14/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The book gives readers the necessary tools to critically assess their intercultural experiences, navigate different cultural settings, and be aware of their own perspectives and cultural biases. It does not dig particularly deeply into the realm of intercultural communication, specific cultural attributes, or cultural differences. Instead, it provides a short, introductory overview of multiple themes that inform cross-cultural interaction, and study abroad in particular: culture, imperialism, racism & privilege, and critical reflection. It is well suited as a concise guidebook for student travelers, but less appropriate as a textbook for intercultural learning.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The text represents critical and challenging subjects in a clear, straightforward, and appropriate way. While its treatment of these concepts is relatively superficial, it is accurate. The text is polished and error free.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Due to the broad, introductory nature of the text, together with enduring themes such as (unfortunately) racism, inequality, and neocolonialism, it will continue to be useful and relevant. The media resources - videos, etc. - are also carefully chosen to be relatively timeless and will have enduring significance and relevance. However, it may be difficult to update these resources because they are linked throughout the text.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is clearly written and understandable to an undergraduate audience unfamiliar with the subject. Although many of the video resources are narrated by Australian students and faculty, they are relatable and easy for American students to understand.

Consistency rating: 5

The book holds together very nicely through well-organized structuring of content, consistent use of images and key terms, and media resources well-spaced throughout the modules. Although the book has multiple authors, the text impressively seems to represent a single voice. At the same time, the presence of multiple authors and perspectives in the linked video resources enhances the book's value and speaks to the theme of intercultural practice.

Modularity rating: 5

The book is very clearly divided and well organized. The modules selected make sense for the content, are short and manageable, and nicely incorporate resources, reflection questions, and class activities.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book is clearly and logically organized. Each module builds on the previous one, beginning with the basic theme of culture and working toward intercultural practice. The progression between modules is smooth and rational.

Interface rating: 5

The text is remarkably free of interface issues, particularly impressive for a pdf with lots of linked resources. One potential caveat is that, while the book is downloadable, it relies heavily on internet-based media. Students attempting to use it without regular access to high-speed internet would have significant limitations.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not notice any grammatical errors. The book seems very polished, professional, and error-free.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

On the contrary, the book successfully addresses cultural insensitivity and promotes intercultural understanding. Concepts are presented primarily for a Western audience. Although certain examples remind the reader that the authors are Australian, the book is certainly appropriate and relevant for students from other Western contexts.

Comments

This is a great resource! It offers a concise but meaningful guide to intercultural engagement for students studying or traveling abroad. It seems particularly well adapted as a pre-travel assignment in faculty-led study abroad programs, which is how I intend to use it. The content is relatively cursory and introductory, so it is not a sufficient stand-alone textbook for intercultural learning or communication, but it could be successfully paired with other sources. At the same time, the brief, introductory nature of this text makes it a fine addition to a study abroad course, where time for such conceptual reading assignments is often short but also critical and foundational. In addition, the linked media learning resources are excellent, and they greatly enhance the value and engagement of this text.

Reviewed by Brian Johnston, Associate Professor, East Tennessee State University on 10/14/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Intercultural Learning is a great resource for students preparing to study abroad. Focusing on culture, cultural diversity, racism and privilege gives students a foundation to prepare themselves mentally to explore a variety of cultures throughout the world. The interactive video embedded in the text brings the concepts presented in the text to life to further expand student learning.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The unbiased information presented in the book is accurate and error free.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Culture can be a changing concept. This text presents the concepts of racism, privilege, imperialism and cultural diversity in a way that each can be applied to various cultures regardless of the area's culture.

Clarity rating: 5

By using both text and interactive video this book provides students with an easy to read reference option when preparing to study abroad.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is consistent in terms of terminology and framework.

Modularity rating: 5

Very well organized and easy to navigate.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The three main concepts presented in the book are thoroughly presented and organized in an appropriate manner.

Interface rating: 5

The interactive video embedded in the text is seamless and easy to use.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors noted.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way.

Comments

The reflection exercises at the end of each section provide an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned prior to the actual experience of being abroad.

Reviewed by Ayami Makino, Instructor , James Madison University on 8/12/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This is a very nice book to cover with students in preparation for any cultural studies, especially those that involve international travels. The book guides the students to develop "critical lens" which will allow the students to practice deeper, and more complex analysis of their cultural experiences. I can imagine using this workbook not only in preparation to travels, but while traveling overseas to keep the reflections and discussions going.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content is accurate and up to date.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Because of the nature of the subject and intention of this book, the content will be relevant for a long period of time.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is well written, clear, and easy to follow. Glossary is provided.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is consistently well organized, new ideas and terminologies are introduced and practiced across the modules.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is divided into nice length modules that are easy to lead and follow. Each module includes introductions to ideas, outside sources such as videos, and excellent questions to discuss and reflect with students.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Well organized and easy to follow. The clean visuals keep the reader interesting and focused.

Interface rating: 5

No issues were found.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text is sensitive to all readers.

Comments

This book does a great job at challenging readers' cultural awareness and how they may take a part in their intercultural learning experience. I will certainly be keeping this book as one of my resources.

Reviewed by Craig Leon, Woodard Family Foundation Fellow / Senior Instructor, Marketing & Sports Business, University of Oregon on 6/17/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The e-book does a nice job framing the key elements of international student travel. The authors' view is more 30,000-feet and would be paired nicely with a resource that focused on the country/countries of that particular trip

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Well sourced with diverse input.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Content in the book is well done. The video content might not age as well.

Clarity rating: 5

Very readable with good use of key terms glossary.

Consistency rating: 5

Well designed and easy to follow

Modularity rating: 5

Subdivided into learning modules with easy access to video content and other pop-up images.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Very well organized and designed for seamless learning.

Interface rating: 5

Very logical and easy to use.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

None.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

As the book's title suggests, the book does a great job addressing various cultures.

Comments

As someone that has led student experiential trips for the past 5 years, I am going to add this to our list of resources.

Reviewed by Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe, Professpr, Missouri University of Science and Technology on 4/29/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book on intercultural learning is very comprehensive. The authors have done an excellent job in developing the five modules and providing a useful glossary.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

This is one of the most balanced book I have read so far in that different points of views were covered.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This book will remain relevant for a very long time given the subject. The longevity of some of resources referenced (e.g. Jane Elliot’s Blue Eyes-Brown Eyes experiment) is a testament to how intercultural learning must continue to evolve.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is very well written.

Consistency rating: 5

The authors used consistent terminology as appropriate and the framework was thoughtfully developed.

Modularity rating: 5

The five modules were not too long or laborious to read, and majority of the accompanying videos were less than 7 minutes in duration.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics are logically organized and well balanced.

Interface rating: 4

The text itself and illustrations have no issues, but there were some broken links to outside resources. The text in some of the comment boxes for definitions were incomplete (e.g. cultural genocide, Module 3).

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors noted.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

As noted earlier, the book is well balanced. It is culturally sensitive and benefited immensely from testimonials by students of diverse backgrounds who have participated in study-abroad programs.

Comments

I would definitely recommend this book to students who plan to travel abroad.

Reviewed by Kari Eller, Instructor; Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant, University of Nebraska - Lincoln on 4/4/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The Welcome Section of this eBook clearly states what the book is and is not. Given these parameters, I feel that this resource is comprehensive in regards to what it sets out to do, "equip students with a ‘critical lens’ through which their preparation process and experience of international travel can be viewed." As such, it is not intended to be the sole resource for intercultural learning but one to be used in conjunction with additional cultural and contextual materials.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The material presented is thoughtfully developed and provides numerous references for concepts shared and further investigation. Each module not only presents the information from a formal perspective but also in simple discussion with the academic team behind the development of the book.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The majority of the concepts presented in this eBook are historically rooted, yet continue to speak to a current audience, whether they are high schoolers, college students, or adult learners eager to embark on the journey of international study opportunities.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is clearly presented and easy to understand through accessible language.

Consistency rating: 5

There is a common thread that can be identified throughout the text and that scaffolds material from one module to the next.

Modularity rating: 5

There are five modules to the eBook. For each module there four learning strategies: engage, discuss, revise and reflect, and step forward. These learning strategies make it easy to divide the module into smaller sections and to tailor the lessons to the needs and interests of diverse learning communities.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The eBook is visually appealing with strong graphics to facilitate ease of learning. Modules use learning icons consistently throughout to visually distinguish key terms, videos, and learning resources.

Interface rating: 5

To go in-between a .pdf and a web browser for videos was painless and quick.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

If there are any grammatical errors presented in the text, they are not easy to find and do not detract from the material presented.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The videos presented include a variety of diverse voices and the references cited stem from several different countries.

Comments

Having already used this resource in some of my teaching, I find that it works well not only at the undergraduate/graduate level but for intergenerational learning with high schoolers and their parents and/or grandparents. This is a resource worth recommending!

Reviewed by Eloise Hockett, Professor of Education, George Fox University on 3/28/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This book succinctly addresses the main points of intercultural preparation. Each topic contains enough information for a basic course, with suggested resources so the student or faculty member can dive deeper into the topicss

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The accompanying videos and resources reflect a deep understanding of what participants need to know before going abroad.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The modules use new content, but also contain resources that have been accepted as fundamental to the various topics.

Clarity rating: 5

The explanations are clear and to the point; the text does not ramble.

Consistency rating: 5

The modules follow the same pattern; one can also get to the material a variety of ways.

Modularity rating: 5

Each module could be used as a supplement on its own for a variety of settings.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The modules are well-organized for the content.

Interface rating: 5

The accompanying graphics and visuals are easy to see and read.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The grammatical structure is appropriate for the collegiate level.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The book addresses difficult topics in a respectful manner, encouraging the reader to examine their own biases and assumptions toward other cultures.

Comments

I plan to use portions of this book for my service-learning preparation courses.

Reviewed by Courtney Anderegg, Assistant Professor, George Fox University on 3/4/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

Importantly, I could not read the all of the content presented in this textbook (see interface section below for details on navigation problems and other interface issues). These issues should be taken into consideration when reading my review. What text I could read seems to cover appropriate areas of interest for this topic. It is a great primer to intercultural communication.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content that could be read is accurate, error-free, and unbiased. Additionally, the authors' attitude toward the content and how that informs the writing is respectful of the overarching idea of culture as well as the example cultures described within the text.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The text seems to be up-to-date in terms of content and the use of modern examples -- as well as student insights -- provides great perspective. These examples will serve those who are reading it well for a number of years. I appreciate the interactive components of the text -- which also make it seem more modern than traditional textbooks -- but have some concerns as to the accessibility of this content to all learners (in addition to the interface issues discussed below).

Clarity rating: 4

This book is written clearly and concisely. The videos add to the clarity, particularly for users who may enjoy audio as a channel through which learning can happen.

Consistency rating: 5

All terminology was consistently used throughout. Additionally, I appreciated the consistency in design, as well.

Modularity rating: 5

I like the division of the text into five modules. The modules make sense and progress the reader through important steps in thinking and learning about culture, culminating in a section on putting knowledge into practice.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The organization of the text into five modules leads to clear understanding of the topic.

Interface rating: 1

This is where the text really falls short for me. After downloading the PDF, I realized that I have limited access to the text due to the pop-up definition/critical reflection boxes. Although an interesting idea, these boxes were all activated when I downloaded the text and I was unable to "X" out of and close them. This resulted in portions or sometimes entire pages of text to be blocked from view. Additionally, although I love the idea of an interactive textbook, I wonder how difficult this would be for someone with a disability to use. For instance, would a screen reader be able to capture all of the intricacies of this text?

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text contains no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This text provides a critical approach to thinking about cultural learning and does so in a culturally sensitive way.

Reviewed by Sharon Varallo, Professor, Communication Studies, Augustana College on 12/29/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This e-book gets a 5 not because it is factually comprehensive, but because the authors did an excellent job of prioritizing material. At 51 pages, it is impossible to be "comprehensive" about anything, let alone Intercultural Learning. But the authors are very clear about that. They are clear upfront and at the end that this e-book and any module on intercultural learning is but a way in and the practice is lifelong.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I've taught Intercultural Communication in many contexts for 18 years, so I'm confident that the content is accurate. What is included reflects an approach based on critical awareness of power. So, no, it is not "unbiased" in that it suggests we are not inherently objective thinkers from having been culturally socialized. It doesn't attempt to instill a particular worldview but it teaches that we are taught to value particular worldviews. That itself makes it distinct from "pure" social science approaches to culture (that, for example, might suggest culture is a thing to be learned or cultural knowledge is a thing that can objectively be assessed, check). In short: Content is accurate and the authors' choices of what to include were based on a critical framework.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content was created for (Australian) students studying abroad. As a US American professor of Intercultural Communication, I also find it relevant not for on-campus coursework on intercultural communication and learning. I would probably skip some of the final student commentary videos (such as the one on Openness in Module 5), but most of the information in the modules is highly relevant to a variety of courses.

Clarity rating: 5

Great work on clarifying concepts that can be murky and difficult to explain. The three professors were especially good at communicating ideas. I found the student videos less satisfying (sorry students!) but I understand why they are there. Still, I hoped those videos could be edited somehow to make them shorter.

Consistency rating: 5

Helpful links to a glossary. I also appreciated that the authors explained that some terms are utilized differently in different fields. I loved what was to me a new framework of "Minority/Majority" -- very nice.

Modularity rating: 5

Compact and easily separable into five major units. The divisions were somewhat different than I have experienced in larger printed works, but they made sense and I prefer what they chose. I'm impressed.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Easy to understand.

Interface rating: 4

The site is attractive and once I had downloaded it I could navigate it (though I had a lot of difficulty when I was trying to read and review it without first having downloaded it). I don't know to what extent the navigation errors were due to my own equipment, but I'll list here what was problematic for me.
1. The definitions that were hyperlinked wouldn't "x" away, so every time I clicked to see a definition that box would remain open. Most of the definition boxes had "X"s on them, but none of them worked. A few definitions didn't have the "X" in the box at all. I had to refresh the page each time.
2. I also could not "X" out of any of the embedded videos without leaving the entire site. So I had to learn the hard way (an unfortunate number of times) only to use the back arrow.
3. The Dass Ted Talk on Beauty of Human Skin in Every Color didn't load right for me, would get interrupted and the audio went out a few places.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Concise and error-free.

One exception: typos in definition of cultural genocide ("of" and "approach")

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This is a great primer for students learning about how to think about cultural learning.

Comments

Thank you for sharing this hard work! I truly appreciate it and will share this with colleagues.

Reviewed by Yaprak Dalat Ward, Assistant Professor , Fort Hays State University on 11/30/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This is a well-thought out eBook which serves as a comprehensive resource covering intercultural topics ranging from basic definitions to complicated terms. No key term is left unattended. The authors present each and every topic in such a manner that some of the most complicated topics becomes easily digestible.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The choice of materials and teaching tools are introduced in an accurate and unbiased manner making this book an invaluable tool not only for “international travelers” but also for instructors and administrators.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Although intercultural learning has been around for decades, the process of teaching and learning the subject matter is not easy. With modern-day examples supported by texts, videos, podcasts and many more instructional tools, this 2018 eBook turns this very complicated goal into a straightforward task.

Clarity rating: 5

The topics are introduced in a well-designed and defined manner. The intercultural literature is dealt with from all angles bringing crystal clarity to one of the most challenging subjects.

Consistency rating: 5

One of the strengths of this eBook is its consistent presentation. If used as a course, the book could provide the instructors with a blueprint presented in a systematic manner, making intercultural learning easier to teach. In addition, the consistency would transform the learning process into an effortless task.

Modularity rating: 5

The modular presentation of this eBook is carefully planned. The interrelated units turn the complicated nature of intercultural learning into smaller digestible chunks. Because each well-rounded module offers an effective learning platform-- with a myriad of questions, discussion topics, critical reflections, follow up-materials with hyper-links-- it is impossible not to make any progress.

As educators, we all know how challenging it could be to keep the instructional momentum going. The make-up of these modules not only aims to tackle the learning process from a myriad of perspectives but also address the learning styles of the new generation learners.

In addition, this eBook can be used in both face-to-face teaching settings and as part of online teaching.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The eBook is well-organized with a logical structure, and is presented both as a student and an instructor manual. The five modules--with “distinct goals,” learning strategies and learning tools--all make it easy to follow. The structure and the presentation of the materials including texts, videos or podcasts invite learners to scroll through wanting to find out more. Throughout the book the key terms, videos and learning resources are easily identified and clearly illustrated.

Interface rating: 5

This is a beautifully designed colorful eBook with texts, videos, podcasts—a pleasure to use both as a teaching and learning tool. The carefully-selected images illustrate the effect of intercultural learning and are of high quality. The icons make the book easy to follow. The texts have hyper-links which are easily accessed.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The book itself intends to teach the notion of becoming aware of issues related to cultural sensitivities through a “critical lens.” The materials provide an excellent platform for learners to acquire or expand their knowledge, skills and abilities related to cultural differences.

Comments

This eBook is beautifully designed, clearly presented, and does what it intends to do: prepare students to become global citizens.

As comprehensive internationalization continues to shape the form and function of higher education, the nature and structure of study abroad/study away programs are required to provide the much-needed competencies that mold the learners as global citizens. This book is an ideal starting point in supporting any study abroad/study away curriculum with intercultural learning outcomes.

The book should serve as a required reading for all incoming freshman students.