Identity texts: an intervention to internationalise the classroom

Abstract

ABSTRACT The growing number of international students studying at Canadian universities has exacerbated the need to address identity, cultural aspects of teaching, and the commonalities of different cultures through a transcultural lens. To explore these concepts, researchers conducted a qualitative study using a workshop format at a large university in western Canada with graduate students, postdoctoral students, and faculty members from multiethnic backgrounds (N = 9). Two questions were posed to precipitate the research: 1) What does being transcultural mean to you? 2) Have you experienced cultural dissonance as part of your professional life? In a series of three activities, participants explored how to use identity texts (written, spoken, visual, musical, or multimodal sociocultural artefacts produced by participants) as an intervention to foster transculturalism and reduce tension and dissonance in a cross-cultural educational setting. Results indicated that using identity texts increased self-awareness, built trust, enhanced belonging, and revealed common humanity, thus creating opportunities to develop a successful professional identity in a multiethnic milieu.