Creating socialization and intercultural citizenship among binational volunteers: Mexican volunteers’ perspectives on an immersion training model

ABSTRACT

International non-profit organizations (INGOs) were traditionally established to facilitate dialogue and bridge cultures. In order for INGOs to successfully carry out their objectives, global activists must work together in a culturally sensitive and responsible manner. The current article examines a volunteer training model that was designed to promote meaningful interactions between binational volunteers. The training, based on a Spanish-immersion and homestay experience, was piloted among volunteers at an INGO on the Mexico-US border. Results suggest that the immersion training model allowed volunteers to reassess and ultimately strengthen their relationships with their international counterparts while developing intercultural citizenship skills.

Tradicionalmente se establecieron las organizaciones internacionales sin fines de lucro (ONGI) para facilitar el diálogo y conectar culturas. Para que las ONGI puedan realizar sus objetivos, activistas globales deben colaborar de una manera responsable y culturalmente apropiada. El presente estudio examina un modelo de capacitación diseñado para promover interacciones significativas entre voluntarios binacionales. La capacitación se basó en una experiencia de hospedaje e inmersión de la lengua española en Nogales, México. Los resultados indican que la capacitación les permitió a los voluntarios reflexionar y aprender a fortalecer sus relaciones con colegas internacionales mientras aumentan sus habilidades como ciudadanos interculturales.

KEYWORDS:

• Intercultural citizenship
• training
• homestay
• volunteers
• border
• socialization

Acknowledgement

In memory of Scott Nicholson – mentor, friend, and activist who dedicated his life to promoting social justice in Latin America.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Carmen King de Ramírez is an Assistant Professor of Spanish at the University of Arizona. She obtained her Ph.D. in Spanish Literature and Culture from the University of Arizona. Her research focuses on Spanish for professional purposes, language, and culture in transnational communities, and computer-assisted language instruction and learning.