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Multicultural Learning and Teaching

Editor-in-Chief: Obiakor, Festus / Algozzine, Robert

Managing Editor: Banks, Tachelle

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2161-2412
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Language Study: A Necessary Part of the Internationalized Curriculum

Lois Spitzer / Arnaldo Cordero-Ramon
Published Online: 2013-06-18 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mlt-2012-0038

Abstract

In an urgent effort to internationalize curricula, institutions of higher education are rethinking the role of language study. Many administrators, faculty, and staff are realizing that language study is more than merely a means of communication. More importantly, it is the key to understanding how people from diverse cultural backgrounds, especially those who are engaged in our academic institutions, interpret their cultural experiences. Three important questions will be discussed in this paper: (1) If we accept the idea that curriculum reforms should mirror the changing world, then what curricular changes are needed to promote internationalization?, (2) What role does language study play in this reformed curriculum?, and (3) If we accept a new definition of knowledge as having a language and cultural component, then how can we better prepare our students to gain multilingual and multicultural competence?

Keywords: language study; internationalized curriculum; culture study; language and culture

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About the article

Published Online: 2013-06-18


Citation Information: Multicultural Learning and Teaching, Volume 8, Issue 1, Pages 81–92, ISSN (Online) 2161-2412, ISSN (Print) 2194-654X, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mlt-2012-0038.

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