The Community's Role in Cross-Cultural Education

Abstract

Every year thousands of strangers from abroad, representing rich and diverse backgrounds of nationality, pro fession, and personality, arrive in American communities. These communities, for the most part, have organized or are organizing themselves to meet effectively the needs of these men and women. In co-operation with campus advisers to foreign students, programs are being developed to open wide doors to family, civic, and cultural life into which students from abroad may enter if they choose. Working closely in co-operation with national agencies under contract to the State Department, with the International Cooperation Administra tion, and other governmental and nongovernmental groups, communities are also providing a variety of services for short- term visitors. Communities are stressing host-family programs through which strong interpersonal relationships can be de veloped. Both family and guest learn from one another as they participate in the dialogue between people of diverse backgrounds. Both professionals and volunteers involved in community programming recognize that goodwill is not enough. Through conferences, seminars, and publications, they have developed an expertise in technique. At the same time, they are continually searching for deeper insights into cross-cul tural contact through reading and consultation with social scientists and anthropologists.