Practicing with peers: ethnographic interviews to inspire intercultural engagement at a small liberal arts college

ABSTRACT

This article discusses the value of an ethnographic interview assignment in an introductory-level anthropology course for stimulating intercultural engagement among college students. While colleges often seem to offer an ideal social environment for intercultural engagement, intergroup avoidance is a widespread problem. The assignment that I evaluate in this article asks students to carry out semi-structured ethnographic interviews with peers who are from different cultural backgrounds than themselves. Evidence gathered through analysis of students’ written reflections, a survey, and a focus group discussion suggests that this type of activity is an impactful learning experience for students in the course and is also valued by international students and others who volunteer to be interviewed.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethnographic interviews
• intercultural engagement
• anthropology
• international students

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Annika Ericksen

Annika Ericksen, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Gustavus Adolphus College. She teaches introductory and general education courses as well as courses in her speciality of environmental anthropology.