Voices together: perspectives from the host and sojourner communities

Abstract

Much of the literature on study abroad focuses on sojourners from prosperous countries of the Global North. Missing from the conversation is the perspective of the host community, often in the Global South. If one of the goals of study abroad is to develop equitable multicultural partnerships, the host perspective must be solicited and understood (Barros, 2016; d’Arlach, Sánchez, & Fueur, 2009; Martin & Griffiths, 2012; Ouma & Dimaras, 2013). To this end, we included the voices of participants from both host and sojourning communities in a US–Ecuador university partnership focused on language teacher education. Using qualitative data, we examined participants’ intercultural development through opportunities for cultural dialogues that positioned one another as equal partners in relationships characterized by mutual respect, reciprocity, and a deepening cultural understanding.