Engaging in Deep Cultural Learning Through the Intersection of Multiple Contexts

Abstract

The type of learning that takes place in teacher education courses typically results in pre-service teachers developing a mixture of knowledge, skills and values that enable them to become effective teachers in schools in the future. During their journey to become qualified teachers, pre-service teachers typically engage in coursework and experiential-based learning. By engaging in coursework experiences, an overseas practicum and an overseas study tour, students experienced a range of reflection-promoting activities and contexts during which they broadened and deepened their understanding of cultures other than their own. Using a cross-case analysis approach, the data gathered in these three cases were evaluated using an experiential learning theoretical framework. This article reports on findings from three separate but related studies in which students’ learning about cultures other than their own was analysed and used to provide a set of practical recommendations for teacher education courses and programs.