A Globetrotting Pilgrimage: An Exploration of Spiritual Growth and the Development of Intercultural Competence

Autor/in	Eifert, Angela Lynn
Titel	A Globetrotting Pilgrimage: An Exploration of Spiritual Growth and the Development of Intercultural Competence
Quelle	(2012), (335 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit D.Ed. Dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-1-2678-2385-4
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; Spiritual Development; Intercultural Communication; Correlation; Christianity; Developing Nations; Semi Structured Interviews; Adults; North Americans; Physicians; Nurses; Teacher Attitudes; Administrator Attitudes; Personal Narratives; Social Values; Learning Processes; Qualitative Research; Work Experience; Foreign Countries; South Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Interkulturelle Kommunikation; Korrelation; Christentum; Developing country; Developing countries; Entwicklungsland; Physician; Doctor; Arzt; Lehrerverhalten; Erlebniserzählung; Sozialer Wert; Learning process; Lernprozess; Qualitative Forschung; Employment experience; Job experience; Occupational experience; Berufserfahrung; Ausland; Südafrika; Süd-Afrika; Republik Südafrika; Südafrikanische Republik
Abstract	The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between spiritual growth and the development of intercultural competence through the experiences of followers of Christ working in least developed countries. To address this purpose, a qualitative study using narrative inquiry and in-depth semi structured interviews were employed to illuminate how participants grew and developed spiritually and interculturally in becoming effective participants within their host communities. A purposeful sample (N = 11) of U.S. American adults, aged 38-76 years, who lived and worked in a least developed country of southern Africa over a span of 5-47 years participated. Though not intentional, all participants were Caucasian, including seven men and four women. As professional doctors, nurses, educators, and administrators, they maintained daily, direct contact with host culture members. To ensure consistency with a discussion of spiritual growth, participants espoused a Christ-centered worldview and identified themselves as followers of Christ. Seven main themes emerged from participants' narratives. Participants (a) perceived God's calling to work abroad, (b) desired to help host communities, (c) approached their host culture respectfully, (d) cultivated relationships purposefully, (e) embraced social values of the host culture, (f) experienced a deepening relationship with God, and (g) sensed understanding working abroad. Findings show spiritual growth and intercultural competence, with an emphasis on meaningful relationships, are interconnected as symbiotic learning processes, each one feeding off the other for sustenance and development. This study is significant as pioneering research that illustrated a non-prescriptive journey to function effectively in a host culture by accentuating the reciprocity between these two constructs. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10