Logo image
Intercultural interactions of mono-cultural, mono-lingual local students in small group learning activities: A Bourdieusian analysis
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Intercultural interactions of mono-cultural, mono-lingual local students in small group learning activities: A Bourdieusian analysis

C. Colvin, F. Fozdar and S. Volet
British Journal of Sociology of Education, Vol.36(3), pp.414-433
2015
url
Link to Published Version *Subscription may be requiredView

Abstract

This research examines the understandings and experiences of mono-cultural, mono-lingual local students in relation to intercultural interactions within small group learning activities at university. Bourdieu’s concepts of field, habitus and capital are employed to illuminate a number of barriers to intercultural interaction. Using qualitative analysis of interviews with local students, the study revealed intercultural interactions to be co-shaped by multiple co-existing, interdependent and often competing structural and contextual elements, as well as the personal dispositions that students bring to the classroom. The field tends to privilege the capital held by local students (knowledge of small group work, verbal confidence, language), and imposes structural limits on interactions. While students' habitus mediates this effect, the overall result discourages interactions between local students and those from different cultural backgrounds. Implications for universities are discussed.

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#4 Quality Education

Source: InCites

Metrics

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
6 Social Sciences
6.11 Education & Educational Research
6.11.1255 International Education
Web Of Science research areas
Education & Educational Research
Sociology
ESI research areas
Social Sciences, general
Logo image