"The Pursuit of Exotica:" A Comment

Autor/in	Shubert, Adrian
Titel	"The Pursuit of Exotica:" A Comment
Quelle	In: Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 15 (2008), S.197-201 (5 Seiten) PDF als Volltext (1); PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei (2) Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1085-4568
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Curriculum Development; International Education; Student Mobility; Study Abroad; Academic Freedom; National Security; Student Needs; Criticism; Tourism; Educational Attitudes; Spanish; Foreign Countries; Uncommonly Taught Languages; Second Language Learning; Second Language Instruction + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Curriculum; Development; Curriculumentwicklung; Lehrplan; Entwicklung; Internationale Erziehung; Student; Students; Mobility; Schüler; Schülerin; Studentin; Mobilität; Studies abroad; Auslandsstudium; Akademische Freiheit; National territory; Security; Staatsgebiet; Sicherheit; Kritik; Tourismus; Educational attitude; Bildungsverhalten; Erziehungseinstellung; Spanisch; Ausland; Minderheitensprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Fremdsprachenunterricht
Abstract	Michael Woolf's article, "Come and See the Poor People: The Pursuit of Exotica," is a provocative critique of what he calls the "new orthodoxy" of promoting study abroad in non-traditional destinations. Woolf's underlying point is that the current emphasis on promoting student mobility to non-traditional, i.e. non-European, destinations "is neither entirely realistic nor wholly desirable." Among the problems he identifies are the prevalent use of the language of tourism; the self-engaged nature of student responses; and the downgrading of "the inherent seriousness of international education." Underlying all this is the absence of an academic agenda to drive the movement. Woolf is also critical of arguments in favor of non-traditional destinations that highlight national security considerations, and he raises the interesting issue of the resource and academic implications of sending large numbers of US students to universities in these countries. He concludes by arguing that for the promotion of study abroad to non-traditional destinations to be legitimate it must "be driven by a combination of curriculum development on US campuses with an investment in building infrastructure in universities in those regions." The author could not agree more with this conclusion. He also agrees with some of Woolf's more specific arguments, but there are a number of points of Woolf's analysis which could, perhaps, be more complete. This comment will take up some of these issues. It is intended as a friendly and supportive comment on Woolf's timely and thought-provoking article as well as a broadening and sharpening of his critique. (Contains 6 notes.) (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	Frontiers Journal. Dickinson College P.O. Box 1773, Carlisle, PA 17013. Tel: 717-254-8858; Fax: 717-245-1677; Web site: http://www.frontiersjournal.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10