Intercultural communication training respectful of learners’ characteristics : a pedagogical model for social promotion of intercultural communication, expertise and skills

Abstract

The escalating immigrant presence in Europe highlights certain issues of diversity in terms of language, para-language, religion, territoriality, class, ethnicity and race. The reality today more than ever is that ‘most, if not all, nation States are differentiated polyethnic States…’ (Gundara, 2000: 24). While this reality, one can argue, has always been an integral part of most European historical reality, most Europeans, and in particular Mediterranean countries, are experiencing a ‘new’ immigration phenomenon. The new wave of immigrants from Africa, sometimes referred to as the ‘boat people’ that cross the sea from the shores of Africa to find a better life in the perceived more affluent countries of Europe, has implanted a new wave of racial awareness which often resulted in racism both at the level of popular talk – man in the street chatter – and of the pseudo-philosophical and I dare say the pseudopolitical discourse, which often result in social and economic policies of a neo-liberal orientation (Fridell, M. 2008).This paper will not attempt to engage in a discussion of the political and moral dilemmas that such a complex phenomenon raises. [excerpt]