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David Shallenberger is Associate Professor of International Education, a position he assumed after four years as the Director of European and Middle Eastern Studies at SIT Study Abroad. He also contributes to institutional efforts regarding research ethics and program review. He has a PhD from the Fielding Institute, an MBA from Stanford University and a BA from Pomona College. |
Intercultural Communications course in Nicaragua:
This year, students were offered a new option to fulfill part of the core course, Intercultural Communication (ICC): a week-long field-based version of the course in Nicaragua. The course was to cover the same core competencies that every ICC section addresses, but within the context of one of the most compelling countries in Latin America.
Together with Aynn Setright, Academic Director of SIT Study Abroad’s undergraduate semester program in Nicaragua (“Revolution, Transformation and Civil Society”), we began working out the opportunities we could structure for students in country. Our idea was to build on the idea of “cultural encounters” between members of different sectors of Nicaraguan society – men and women, heterosexual and LGBT, rural and urban, wealthy and impoverished, conservative and revolutionary, of varying spiritual paths, and so on. We knew that in eight days we could not begin to present a full portrait that included all of these dimensions, so we thought about how we could use a few of them as mirrors of the larger encounters that happened every day in that society. In addition, we built into the program opportunities for participants to explore their own encounters with the country and its people.
Students began their work in the middle of the fall semester: reading and reflecting to build a solid foundation in both theories of intercultural communication and the social situation in Nicaragua. They wrote cultural autobiographies, designed preliminary project plans, and worked together in analyzing how particular models might interpret the cultures of Nicaragua and the US. They read two books on Nicaraguan history and society, and were encouraged to move beyond those sources to other readings, given their time constraints. We also had two meetings with the full group, timing one of those to allow the students to meet with Aynn when she happened to be on campus for other meetings.
All of this preparation led to the travel itself. Meeting up in Managua, we quickly moved into homestays, and began a packed schedule of meetings, cultural experiences, and reflections. Through this unique course, we got a glimpse of the nuances of the communities that make up a small country with a turbulent history. We saw how over-simplifications of the last few decades in Nicaragua hid these complexities. And we got to know each other in ways we might not otherwise have the opportunity to. We were faculty and students from several SIT programs – low-residency and on-campus — learning, traveling and living together for a few days, away from the rhythm and routine of the campus.
In the end, we were challenged by each other and the people we met. We confronted our values as we were challenged by the life stories and current realities of individuals in different social strata, be they a Harvard graduate who swam the Rio Grande to escape the land reforms of the 80s or a child scavenging for recyclable materials she could see and food she could eat. And we have been challenged to incorporate our learning in a way that is meaningful, to take responsibility for the decisions we make as we move forward, and to continue asking ourselves hard questions. How do we balance our strong personal feelings (be they of outrage, hope, or concern, for example) with our efforts to be respectful and empathetic intercultural communicators? How do we deeply understand the perspective of those who bring backgrounds, experience, values and dreams that are very different from those we have? How do we combine activism with openness? How do we enter every situation with “beginner’s mind,” with flexibility and a passionate desire to learn from the stories of others?
Building on experience is central to what we do at SIT – be it by using the very individual histories and experiences we all bring to SIT as a springboard for further reflection; through exercises and activities outside of the classroom to apply and deepen what we are exploring in written material; or in this kind of shared immersion in another culture. This interweaving of life inside and outside the classroom adds crucial dimension to the graduate work we create at SIT.
Bios:
David’s previous positions include 20 years teaching global studies, intercultural communication and research, ethical leadership, and multicultural awareness; developing and coordinating travel study programs for adults in Europe, Asia, and Latin America; directing a BA program in Hong Kong; and expanding our understanding of “the other.” Prior to coming to SIT, Shallenberger held faculty and administrative positions at DePaul University and the University of Redlands and has also taught at Elmhurst College, Mallinckrodt College, and National University. Shallenberger has given workshops on adult learning, cross-cultural communication, and multicultural issues at universities in El Salvador, Poland, Romania, and China. He has written numerous articles and is the author of Reclaiming the Spirit: Gay Men and Lesbians Come to Terms with Religion.
Tags: - World Learning, David Shallenberger, PIM (Program in Intercultural Service Lead and Mgmt), SIT Graduate Institute
