The mass communication process via (mass) media has a great potential of reaching people all around the world. This may foster cosmopolitanism and democracy, but it also holds the danger of an increasing manipulation because of the fact that media can never be neutral and value-free. While some studies do not see a harmful impact of media, most…

Cultural sensitivity is recommended in education, but to our knowledge it has not been defined operationally. We found no research suggesting that behavioral interventions work differently with students differing in ethnicity, gender, or religion, although socialization may play a role in shaping behavior, selecting or responding to particular…

This article explores translation strategies in English and French versions of Japanese comic books, comparing English and French dialogue text regarding local color, atmospherics, and characterization. Section 1 describes Japanese comic books. Section 2 examines translation strategies. Sections 3 and 4 discuss local color and character locus…

With the shift in numbers between Canadian-born students in the university classroom and the increased number of international students, it is a primary concern for instructors and instructional designers to know and understand learner characteristics in order to create effective instructional messages and materials. Recognizing how culture might…

This paper points out that in public relations (PR) the global network approach is fast catching on along with the trend of opening subsidiary offices and entering joint ventures and affiliations with PR agencies in various parts of the world. The paper discusses the need to build theory in the area of international public relations so that…

The American school system precariously bridged the two separate worlds in which the Italian immigrant child existed, that of his ethnic community and of the dominant society. The failure of Italian Americans to participate fully in all levels of academia will diminish expectations in higher education and in the society as a whole. (CJ)

Switzerland's multilingual and multicultural image as an exemplary model of successful cohabitation and conflict management gives a misleading static impression of harmonious intercultural relations. The highly complex Swiss society faces challenges from the coalition of cultural and linguistic entities that live beside, rather than with, one…

First reviews the literature on bilingual/bicultural education for deaf students (DBiBi education). DBiBi education recognizes American Sign Language and English as distinct languages and deaf and hearing cultures as distinguishable sociocultural groups. It then describes environmental and pedagogical aspects that characterize DBiBi education as…

Describes powwow practices, participants, music, and dance, as well as conflicts over gender issues, secular versus spiritual interests, and relations between Indians and non-Indians. Argues that the powwow is best understood in dual paradoxical terms: it plays a unifying role in Indian life, affirming tribal and supratribal identity and…

Suggests a method for teaching about modern Chinese literature that attempts to avoid problems resulting from the lack of cross-cultural understanding between Western and Chinese cultures, and emphasizes ways to become aware of differences without denying one's own culture. (23 references) (CB)

This paper is a report of a research project on critical multiliteracies and multimodality in Brazilian education. In the context of a growing concern for the construction of images in contemporary society, the paper discusses the interrelations between image, language and interpretation. The specific object of the investigation described below is…

This article summarizes teacher action research for the teaching of subjective culture in the foreign language classroom. It begins with a literature review, followed by a description of Milton J. Bennett's Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (Bennett, 1993), the theoretical paradigm upon which classroom activities and experiments…

Sociocultural factors that may affect the Mexican-American population's accessibility to and use of health care systems are discussed, including language barriers, socioeconomic status, educational attainment, folk and religious beliefs, and family influence. (CJ)

The Polish experience in America is explored through three different but related topics: the Pole as immigrant; the ambivalent role of education; and attitudes toward change. (JN)

Adaptation to a new culture creates acculturative stress. This article defines and describes aspects of the pervasive, intense, and lifelong stressors among Hispanic emigres in the United States. Counselors should learn Hispanic immigrants' realities and the psychological impact of acculturation so as to help immigrants adapt to these stressors.…